Militant Fighters Pose as Soldiers to Raid Somali Prison

Seven al-Shabab attackers who carried out an assault on a maximum-security detention facility in Somalia's capital city have been eliminated, according to government statements.

A huge explosion and sustained shooting were reported coming from Godka Jilicow - a facility that detains militant members - in the capital on Saturday.

In a statement, the militant group stated it had released "every detained inmates" from the prison and caused heavy losses on guards guarding the center.

The militants disguised themselves as military personnel in order to access the detention facility, according to reports released on the following day.

The authorities did not disclose how many of its security forces were lost during the attack, but offered condolences to the families of "the fallen heroes."

Similarly, al-Shabab did not release a casualty count for its own militants.

The fighting commenced at around 16:40 in the afternoon (13:40 GMT).

The detention center is located near the national presidential palace, in the center of the capital. It is manned by the country's National Intelligence and Security Agency and detains al-Shabab fighters and other notable prisoners.

The assault represents a major blow to the security forces and is expected to raise concerns about how the militants were able to access one of the most secure areas in the city.

Al-Shabab is affiliated to al-Qaeda and has conducted a violent insurgency against the government in the country for nearly 20 years.

Hours before the attack occurred, the authorities had reopened major thoroughfares in Mogadishu which were formerly closed for security reasons, pointing to progress in the city's safety.