🔗 Share this article

Seven militant attackers who launched an attack on a high-security prison in the capital have been killed, according to official announcements.

An enormous blast and sustained shooting were heard coming from Godka Jilicow - a complex that holds militant members - in the capital on Saturday.

In a statement, the militant group claimed it had freed "every detained prisoners" from the prison and inflicted heavy casualties on guards guarding the complex.

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

The authorities did not reveal how many of its personnel were lost during the attack, but expressed sympathies to the families of "those who perished."

Likewise, the militant organization did not release a death toll for its affiliated militants.

The clash began at around 16:40 in the afternoon (1:40 PM GMT).

The detention center is situated near the Somali presidential palace, in the center of the capital. It is manned by Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency and holds militant members and other notable detainees.

The assault represents a significant setback to the intelligence agency and is expected to raise concerns about how the attackers were able to access one of the most heavily guarded areas in the capital.

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

Hours before Saturday's incident occurred, the authorities had reopened major thoroughfares in the capital which were formerly closed for security concerns, citing progress in the urban security situation.