🔗 Share this article Al-Shabab Fighters Disguise as Soldiers to Storm Somalia's Detention Center Smoke was visible billowing near the government compound on the weekend All seven al-Shabab attackers who launched an attack on a high-security detention facility in the capital city have been eliminated, according to government statements. A huge explosion and intense gunfire were reported coming from the detention center - a facility that detains militant fighters - in Mogadishu on Saturday evening. In a statement, al-Shabab stated it had released "all detained inmates" from the facility and inflicted significant losses on security forces protecting the complex. The attackers posed as military personnel in order to gain entry the detention facility, according to reports released on Sunday. The authorities did not reveal how many of its security forces were lost during the incident, but expressed condolences to the families of "the fallen heroes." Likewise, al-Shabab did not provide a casualty count for its affiliated militants. The clash commenced at around 4:40 PM local time (1:40 PM GMT). Godka Jilicow is situated near the Somali presidential palace, in the heart of Mogadishu. It is manned by the country's National Intelligence and Security Agency and detains militant members and other high-profile detainees. The assault represents a major setback to the intelligence agency and is likely to raise concerns about how the militants were able to access one of the most secure areas in the capital. The militant group is linked to al-Qaeda and has waged a brutal insurgency against the government in the country for almost two decades. Hours before Saturday's attack took place, the government had reopened key roads in the capital which were formerly closed for safety concerns, citing improvements in the city's safety.