🔗 Share this article

All seven militant fighters who carried out an attack on a maximum-security prison in Somalia's capital have been killed, according to official announcements.

A huge explosion and sustained shooting were heard coming from Godka Jilicow - a complex that detains militant fighters - in Mogadishu on Saturday evening.

In a statement, the militant group stated it had freed "every Muslim prisoners" from the facility and inflicted heavy losses on security forces protecting the complex.

The attackers disguised themselves as soldiers in order to gain entry the prison, according to reports released on Sunday.

The authorities did not disclose how many of its personnel were lost during the incident, but expressed condolences to the families of "the fallen heroes."

Likewise, al-Shabab did not provide a casualty count for its affiliated fighters.

The fighting commenced at around 4:40 PM local time (13:40 GMT).

Godka Jilicow is situated near the national palace compound, in the center of Mogadishu. It is operated by the country's National Intelligence and Security Agency and detains militant members and other notable prisoners.

The attack represents a major blow to the intelligence agency and is expected to prompt questions about how the attackers were able to access one of the most secure areas in the city.

The militant group is affiliated to the global terrorist network and has waged a brutal insurgency against the government in Somalia for nearly 20 years.

Just hours before Saturday's incident occurred, the government had reopened access to major roads in the capital which were previously blocked for security concerns, pointing to progress in the urban security situation.