Gunfire Erupts in Mogadishu Prison Leaving Five Dead

Five inmates were killed in Mogadishu, Somalia, after a firefight broke out between security forces and prisoners who had obtained weapons and attempted to escape. The inmates, members of the Islamist group al Shabaab, had been sentenced to death. State media reported that grenades and guns were smuggled into the cell.

Gunfire erupted in Mogadishu's main prison on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of five inmates after a confrontation between prisoners and security forces, state media and local residents reported.

The prisoners, all members of the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, had acquired weapons and attempted an escape, according to Somalia National TV. They were shot dead by prison forces during the operation.

Eyewitnesses and security personnel revealed that grenades and guns had been smuggled into the cell, initiating the firefight. The area near the prison, located in the city's south, was cordoned off by government forces, with no confirmation on any escapes.

(With inputs from agencies.)