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Somalian officials have confirmed that security forces successfully prevented a deadly jailbreak attempt at Mogadishu’s central prison on Saturday.
According to officials, prison guards were attacked by inmates using pistols and hand grenades, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. It is suspected that the inmates had smuggled the weapons into the facility. Following the assault, security forces managed to regain control of the prison.

Abdiqani Mohamed Khalaf, a spokesman for the prison, said, “Three prison guards were killed and three others were injured in the attack.” He also confirmed the deaths of five inmates, with another 18 injured. According to Khalaf, “All five inmates who were fatally shot had been convicted of involvement in militant bombings and smuggling of explosives in Mogadishu.”
Among the killed inmates were individuals previously convicted of high-profile attacks. These included a man who was on death row for an attack on the Mayor of Mogadishu’s office and his connection to a suicide bombing that targeted a military training camp. Another man was on death row for his involvement in a terrorist attack on the Hayat Hotel in 2022.
Not the first time:
Somalia has faced high-profile prison breaks before. In 2020, several al-Shabab terrorists attempted an escape after acquiring weapons smuggled in by visitors. This incident resulted in the deaths of 19 people, including four prison guards.