Al-Shabaab militants launched an attack on Mogadishu’s heavily fortified Godka Jilacow prison on Saturday afternoon.
The assault began with a suicide bombing followed by heavy gunfire. The facility, which is controlled by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), is among the most secure sites in the capital.
Reports indicate that several prisoners managed to escape during the attack.
The explosion occurred just hours after the Federal Government of Somalia announced that it had secured Mogadishu and removed long-standing roadblocks that had been in place for years due to security concerns.
The number of casualties remains unclear, but preliminary reports suggest that there were deaths and injuries. Security forces have since sealed off several roads leading to the site of the explosion, making it difficult to verify the exact figures.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
