Militant Members Disguise as Soldiers to Raid Somali Prison
Seven militant attackers who carried out an attack on a high-security detention facility in Somalia's capital city have been killed, according to official statements.
A massive blast and intense shooting were heard coming from the detention center - a complex that detains al-Shabab fighters - in Mogadishu on Saturday evening.
In a communication, al-Shabab stated it had freed "every Muslim prisoners" from the prison and inflicted heavy losses on guards protecting the center.
The attackers posed as soldiers in order to gain entry the prison, according to accounts released on Sunday.
The government did not disclose how many of its security forces were killed during the incident, but offered condolences to the families of "those who perished."
Likewise, al-Shabab did not provide a death toll for its affiliated fighters.
The clash commenced at around 16:40 in the afternoon (13:40 GMT).
The detention center is located near the Somali presidential palace, in the center of Mogadishu. It is operated by the country's National Intelligence and Security Agency and holds al-Shabab members and other notable prisoners.
The attack represents a significant setback to the intelligence agency and is likely to raise questions about how the militants were able to enter one of the most secure locations in the capital.
Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaeda and has waged a violent insurgency against the authorities in Somalia for nearly two decades.
Hours before the attack occurred, the authorities had reopened major roads in the capital which were formerly blocked for security concerns, pointing to progress in the city's safety.
