Mogadishu: Somali security forces on Sunday said they had killed seven al-Shabab militants who stormed a high-security prison in Mogadishu. The government confirmed that all the attackers were killed following their six-hour siege.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, on Saturday, the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group launched an attack on the Godka Jilacow prison complex, situated near the presidential palace in the capital. Explosions and gunfire were reported from the site on Saturday evening.

The Godka Jilacow facility is managed by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency and is one of the most secure locations in the capital. The militants managed to infiltrate the prison by disguising themselves as soldiers. Al-Shabab claimed the attack aimed to liberate some of its members; however, the Somali government stated that no prisoners escaped during the incident.

The number of casualties among the security forces remains unclear. Abdulkadir Adam, a private ambulance owner, reported that his vehicles had transported nearly 25 patients from the scene to various hospitals.

The attack occurred just hours after the federal government lifted several long-standing roadblocks in Mogadishu. These barricades had been in place for years to protect critical government sites, though many residents believed they hindered traffic and commerce.