Al-Shabab Fighters Pose as Military Personnel to Attack Somalia's Detention Center
All seven al-Shabab attackers who launched an assault on a high-security prison in the capital city have been neutralized, according to official statements.
A huge blast and intense gunfire were reported coming from Godka Jilicow - a facility that detains militant members - in Mogadishu on Saturday.
In a communication, al-Shabab stated it had released "every detained inmates" from the prison and caused significant casualties on guards guarding the complex.
The attackers disguised themselves as soldiers in order to gain entry the detention facility, according to reports published on Sunday.
The government did not reveal how many of its security forces were killed during the attack, but expressed condolences to the families of "those who perished."
Likewise, al-Shabab did not provide a death toll for its own militants.
The clash began at around 4:40 PM local time (13:40 GMT).
Godka Jilicow is situated near the national palace compound, in the center of Mogadishu. It is manned by Somalia's intelligence service and detains militant members and other high-profile prisoners.
The assault represents a major blow to the security forces and is expected to prompt concerns about how the militants were able to enter one of the most secure locations in the city.
The militant group is linked to the global terrorist network and has conducted a brutal insurgency against the authorities in Somalia for nearly two decades.
Hours before Saturday's incident occurred, the government had reopened key roads in Mogadishu which were previously blocked for safety reasons, pointing to progress in the city's security situation.
