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Attackers wore military uniform and rode vehicles imitating security forces to breach a high-security prison in the capital
Smoke billows from a compound near the presidential palace, following explosions in Mogadishu, Somalia
All seven attackers who stormed a major prison complex in Mogadishu have been killed following an hours-long gun battle in the largest such assault on the capital in recent months, the Somali government has said.
The government said the assault began with a car bomb blast, followed by the exchange of heavy gunfire and explosions which rang out across the city, in a six hour-long siege. The Somali government didn’t specify how many of its security officials died in the response but gave its condolences to the “fallen heroes”.
In a statement, al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, said it launched the attack to free “all the Muslim prisoners” held at the facility but the government later said no-one had escaped.
A Somali security official at the prison told the Reuters news agency they heard a “huge blast at the cell gate and soon an exchange of gunfire started”.
“More forces were deployed to eliminate the fighters,” he added.
The Somali state media said the attackers used vehicles painted to resemble those of the country’s intelligence agency and wore uniforms similar to those of its military. “This enabled them to easily pass through the control checkpoints protecting the capital’s security, as armed forces vehicles are not subject to formal inspection,” the Ministry of Internal Security said in a statement.
Local TV broadcast footage of checkpoints being dismantled.
The Godka Jilow prison is a fortified site near the presidential palace in one of Mogadishu’s most secure areas, raising doubts about reported improvements in the security situation in the Somali capital.
Smoke billows from a compound near the presidential palace, following explosions in Mogadishu, Somalia
All seven attackers who stormed a major prison complex in Mogadishu have been killed following an hours-long gun battle in the largest such assault on the capital in recent months, the Somali government has said.
The al-Shabab group attacked Godka Jilow, an underground prison complex known to hold fighters from the armed group, on Saturday.The government said the assault began with a car bomb blast, followed by the exchange of heavy gunfire and explosions which rang out across the city, in a six hour-long siege. The Somali government didn’t specify how many of its security officials died in the response but gave its condolences to the “fallen heroes”.
In a statement, al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, said it launched the attack to free “all the Muslim prisoners” held at the facility but the government later said no-one had escaped.
A Somali security official at the prison told the Reuters news agency they heard a “huge blast at the cell gate and soon an exchange of gunfire started”.
“More forces were deployed to eliminate the fighters,” he added.
The Somali state media said the attackers used vehicles painted to resemble those of the country’s intelligence agency and wore uniforms similar to those of its military. “This enabled them to easily pass through the control checkpoints protecting the capital’s security, as armed forces vehicles are not subject to formal inspection,” the Ministry of Internal Security said in a statement.
Attack hours after roads reopened
The attack took place just hours after the government reopened dozens of roads across the capital for the first time in over a decade, with Prime Minister Hamza Barre citing “visible changes and improvements” in the security situation.Local TV broadcast footage of checkpoints being dismantled.
The Godka Jilow prison is a fortified site near the presidential palace in one of Mogadishu’s most secure areas, raising doubts about reported improvements in the security situation in the Somali capital.
