A police official says gunmen have killed a Somali lawmaker and his bodyguard in a drive-by shooting in the capital, Mogadishu.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein of the Somali police said Thursday that lawmaker Mohamed Mohamud Heyd and a colleague, who was wounded, were on their way to attend a parliamentary meeting when their car was sprayed with bullets near the fortified presidential palace.

He said a parliamentary aide traveling with the lawmakers was also wounded in the attack.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab frequently carries out attacks on lawmakers, government soldiers and foreigners in Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab has vowed increased attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.