Mogadishu, Somalia — A brazen assault by the al-Qaida-affiliated militant group al-Shabab targeted a high-security prison near Somalia’s presidential palace on Saturday, unleashing chaos in the capital. The attack, marked by explosions and heavy gunfire, occurred just hours after the federal government removed long-standing roadblocks in Mogadishu, a move intended to ease traffic and commerce but which may have inadvertently compromised security. Residents in the Bondhere district reported hearing blasts and witnessing thick smoke rising from the Godka Jilacow prison, which also houses the regional intelligence unit. Hibo Mohamed, a local resident, expressed widespread fear, stating, ‘The city had been calm for months, but now everyone feels anxious once more.’ Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that they had freed prisoners. Somali state media reported that the militants used a vehicle disguised as one belonging to the intelligence unit’s security forces. Government soldiers reportedly repelled the assault, killing several militants. The attack on Godka Jilacow prison is not unprecedented; in 2014, al-Shabab launched a similar assault involving a suicide car bomb and an attempted prison break, which resulted in at least a dozen fatalities. Saturday’s incident underscores the persistent threat posed by the militant group, despite recent gains by Somali forces, supported by local militias and African Union troops, in pushing al-Shabab out of central and southern regions. Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area, and ambulances rushed to the scene, though the exact number of casualties remains unclear. The timing of the attack, following the removal of roadblocks, has reignited debates about the balance between security measures and urban mobility in Mogadishu.