Attackers wore military uniform and rode vehicles imitating security forces to breach a high-security prison in the capital.All seven attackers who stormed a major prison complex in Mogadishu have been killed following an hours-long gun battle in the largest such assault on the capital in recent months, the Somali government has said.The al-Shabab group attacked Godka Jilow, an underground prison complex known to hold fighters from the armed group, on Saturday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe government said the assault began with a car bomb blast, followed by the exchange of heavy gunfire and explosions which rang out across the city, with three members of the security forces killed during efforts to quell the attack.In a statement, al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, said it launched the attack to free some of its members from the prison.A Somali security official at the prison told the Reuters news agency they heard a “huge blast at the cell gate and soon an exchange of gunfire started”.“More forces were deployed to eliminate the fighters,” he added.The Somali state media said the attackers used vehicles painted to resemble those of the country’s intelligence agency and wore uniforms similar to those of its military. “This enabled them to easily pass through the control checkpoints protecting the capital’s security, as armed forces vehicles are not subject to formal inspection,” the Ministry of Internal Security said in a statement.Attack hours after roads reopenedThe attack took place just ho …
