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A fierce gunfire was heard inside the main prison in Mogadishu on Monday afternoon after al-Shabab inmates exchanged gunfire with security officers inside the heavily guarded facility in the restive city, police and witnesses said.

“There is an exchange of gunfire inside the prison. Militants from the terrorist group are fighting with the Special Forces,” a police officer who did not want to be named told Xinhua.

Residents said that huge explosions preceded the gunfire at the heavily guarded Mogadishu prison.

It has not been established how al-Shabab inmates obtained the guns but grenade explosions and gunfire could be heard inside the prison.