Al-Shabab's Bold Assault: Disguised Militant Attack on Somali Jail

Fri Oct 10 2025 22:30:06 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a daring operation, Al-Shabab militants disguised as soldiers stormed a high-security prison in Somalia, resulting in intense gunfire and a significant security breach.

A recent attack by Al-Shabab militants on a high-security prison in Mogadishu, Somalia, involves militants disguising themselves as soldiers. Although the Somali government confirmed the deaths of all attackers, Al-Shabab's claims of releasing prisoners have raised grave concerns over security protocols. The incident took place near the presidential palace, amplifying fears about the group's operational capabilities within heavily protected areas.

Seven al-Shabab militants who attacked a high-security prison in Somalia's capital have all been killed, the country's government has confirmed.

A huge explosion and gunfire erupted from Godka Jilicow - a detention center for al-Shabab militants - in Mogadishu on Saturday evening.

In a contentious statement, al-Shabab claimed to have released all the Muslim prisoners and inflicted heavy casualties on prison guards.

The militants managed to enter the facility disguised as soldiers, according to a report from the government-run news agency Sonna Live.

Details about security forces' casualties remain undisclosed, but the government extended condolences to the families of those killed, referring to them as fallen heroes.

The incident, which began around 16:40 local time (13:40 GMT), is particularly alarming given the prison's location near Somalia's presidential palace. This has raised serious questions regarding the ability of militants to breach one of the most fortified areas in the capital.

Although al-Shabab did not provide an exact death toll for their members, they have a documented history of violence and are recognized as a key terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda, leading an insurgency against the Somali government for almost two decades.

The attack comes shortly after government officials announced the reopening of critical roads in Mogadishu, which had been closed for security measures, indicating a shift in perceived safety in the city.