đź”— Share this article Al-Shabab Members Disguise as Soldiers to Storm Somali Jail Smoke was observed billowing near the government compound on the weekend All seven militant fighters who carried out an assault on a high-security prison in the capital city have been killed, according to government statements. A massive explosion and sustained gunfire were heard coming from Godka Jilicow - a facility that detains militant members - in the capital on Saturday. In a communication, al-Shabab claimed it had freed "all detained prisoners" from the facility and inflicted heavy losses on guards protecting the complex. The militants posed as soldiers in order to access the detention facility, according to reports published on Sunday. The authorities did not disclose how many of its security forces were lost during the attack, but expressed condolences to the families of "those who perished." Similarly, the militant organization did not release a death toll for its own fighters. The fighting commenced at around 4:40 PM local time (1:40 PM GMT). Godka Jilicow is situated near the national palace compound, in the heart of Mogadishu. It is operated by the country's intelligence service and detains militant members and other notable prisoners. The assault represents a significant setback to the security forces and is likely to raise concerns about how the attackers were able to access one of the most secure locations in the city. Al-Shabab is linked to the global terrorist network and has conducted a violent insurgency against the authorities in the country for nearly 20 years. Hours before Saturday's incident took place, the government had reopened access to key roads in the capital which were formerly blocked for security reasons, citing improvements in the city's security situation.