Al-Shabab militants disguised as soldiers stormed a high-security prison in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, sparking a fierce gun battle that left all seven attackers dead. The militants, who affiliated with al-Qaeda, targeted the Godka Jilicow detention center, which holds al-Shabab fighters and other high-profile detainees.
The government reported that the security forces defending the prison suffered casualties, but the exact number was not disclosed.
The attack, which began with a huge explosion and gunfire, raises concerns about the security of the capital’s most heavily guarded areas.
The prison is located near the presidential palace and is manned by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (Nisa).
Al-Shabab claimed to have released “all the Muslim prisoners” from the facility and inflicted heavy casualties on those guarding the center.
The incident comes hours after the government reopened key roads in Mogadishu, previously closed for security reasons, citing improvements in the city’s safety.
Al-Shabab has waged a brutal insurgency against the government in Somalia for nearly 20 years.
