Damaged vehicles are seen at the scene of a suicide attack at the Defence Ministry compound in Sanaa December 5, 2013, in this picture provided by the ministry. [Photo/Agencies]

ADEN, Yemen — Yemen's government says 52 people have been killed in a suicide car bombing and a subsequent attack by gunmen on the Defense Ministry in the capital, Sanaa.

A statement by the Supreme Security Commission, which is led by the president, says 167 people also have also been wounded in Thursday's attack, the deadliest in Sanaa in years.

They say casualties included soldiers, staff at a military hospital inside the Defense Ministry's downtown complex and civilians.

Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suicide bombings and complex attacks are the hallmarks of al-Qaida.