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All seven al-Shabab attackers who carried out an attack on a high-security detention facility in the capital have been eliminated, according to official announcements.

An enormous explosion and sustained gunfire were reported coming from the detention center - a facility that holds militant fighters - in Mogadishu on Saturday evening.

In a statement, al-Shabab stated it had freed "every detained inmates" from the prison and caused heavy casualties on security forces guarding the center.

The attackers disguised themselves as military personnel in order to access the detention facility, according to reports released on Sunday.

The authorities did not reveal how many of its personnel were killed during the incident, but expressed condolences to the families of "the fallen heroes."

Similarly, al-Shabab did not provide a death toll for its own fighters.

The fighting commenced at around 16:40 in the afternoon (1:40 PM GMT).

Godka Jilicow is situated near the national palace compound, in the heart of the capital. It is manned by the country's National Intelligence and Security Agency and detains al-Shabab members and other notable prisoners.

The assault represents a major setback to the intelligence agency and is expected to prompt questions about how the attackers were able to enter one of the most heavily guarded areas in the city.

Al-Shabab is linked to the global terrorist network and has waged a brutal insurgency against the authorities in Somalia for almost 20 years.

Just hours before the incident took place, the authorities had reopened access to key thoroughfares in Mogadishu which were formerly blocked for security concerns, pointing to progress in the urban security situation.