Al-Shabab Fighters Pose as Soldiers to Storm Somalia's Detention Center
Seven al-Shabab attackers who carried out an attack on a high-security detention facility in the capital city have been eliminated, according to official statements.
A massive explosion and intense gunfire were heard coming from Godka Jilicow - a complex that detains militant members - in the capital on Saturday evening.
In a statement, al-Shabab claimed it had freed "every Muslim inmates" from the facility and inflicted significant losses on guards protecting the complex.
The militants posed as military personnel in order to gain entry the prison, according to reports published on Sunday.
The government did not reveal how many of its security forces were killed during the incident, but expressed sympathies to the families of "those who perished."
Likewise, the militant organization did not provide a death toll for its affiliated fighters.
The fighting started at around 16:40 in the afternoon (1:40 PM GMT).
The detention center is located near the national presidential palace, in the center of the capital. It is manned by Somalia's intelligence service and detains militant members and other high-profile prisoners.
The attack represents a significant setback to the security forces and is likely to prompt questions about how the militants were able to access one of the most heavily guarded areas in the capital.
The militant group is linked to al-Qaeda and has waged a violent insurgency against the government in the country for nearly 20 years.
Just hours before Saturday's incident took place, the authorities had reopened key thoroughfares in Mogadishu which were formerly closed for safety reasons, citing progress in the urban security situation.
