Militant Fighters Pose as Military Personnel to Attack Somali Prison
All seven al-Shabab attackers who launched an assault on a maximum-security prison in the capital have been neutralized, according to government statements.
A massive blast and intense gunfire were reported coming from Godka Jilicow - a complex that detains militant members - in Mogadishu on Saturday evening.
In a communication, al-Shabab claimed it had freed "every Muslim inmates" from the prison and inflicted significant casualties on guards guarding the complex.
The militants posed as soldiers in order to gain entry the prison, according to reports released on the following day.
The government did not disclose how many of its security forces were killed during the attack, but offered sympathies to the families of "those who perished."
Likewise, the militant organization did not provide a casualty count for its affiliated militants.
The fighting started at around 4:40 PM in the afternoon (1:40 PM GMT).
Godka Jilicow is situated near the Somali presidential palace, in the heart of Mogadishu. It is operated by the country's intelligence service and detains militant members and other high-profile prisoners.
The assault represents a significant setback to the intelligence agency and is likely to prompt concerns about how the militants were able to enter one of the most secure areas in the city.
Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaeda and has conducted a brutal insurgency against the authorities in Somalia for nearly 20 years.
Just hours before Saturday's incident took place, the government had reopened key thoroughfares in the capital which were previously blocked for safety reasons, citing improvements in the urban safety.
