Somali security forces on Saturday engaged in heavy fighting with al-Shabaab militants who launched an assault on Godka Jilaow, a high-security underground prison located near the Villa Somalia presidential compound in Mogadishu.
The facility houses detained members of the al-Qaeda-linked group, which has been waging an insurgency in Somalia since 2007 and has recently intensified its activities in rural areas.
According to a paramilitary officer identified as Ahmed, “We heard a huge blast at the cell gate and soon an exchange of gunfire started. More forces were deployed to eliminate the fighters. The operation is still ongoing.”
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it began with a suicide car bomb that allowed gunmen to storm the compound, leading to casualties among security personnel.
State television reported that the attackers used a vehicle disguised as a security forces car to breach the entrance. “Some of the fighters were shot dead. What’s going on is the final operation to eliminate the attackers,” the government said in a statement.
Residents in nearby areas confirmed hearing the initial explosion followed by sustained gunfire. As of press time, official casualty figures had not been released.
Source:Africa Publicity
