Militants attack major prison in Mogadishu hours after roadblocks lifted

Explosions and heavy gunfire erupted near Somalia’ s presidential palace on Saturday in an attack by a militant group targeting a major prison just hours after the federal government lifted roadblocks in place for years in the capital. Residents in the central Mogadishu district of Bondhere reported hearing explosions and gunfire and seeing smoke billowing from the prison, which also serves as the headquarters for the regional intelligence unit. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group, which is based in Somalia, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had released prisoners.