Mogadishu (SD) – The federal government of Somalia has announced that there may have insiders that facilitated the attack on the Mogadishu Central Prison, carried out by Al Shabab prisoners on Monday.

Acting Minister of Justice Hassan Hussein Haji described the attack as suspicious and stressed that there were people who facilitated the smuggling of weapons to prisoners, and will launch an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The minister confirmed that there were casualties caused by the prison riot, but declined to elaborate.

The rioters, which numbered about 10 clashed with security forces guarding the central prison in Mogadishu, and an hours long battle ensued until 7:00 pm tonight.

Mogadishu Central Prison holds inmates convicted of various offenses, some of which are convicted Al-Shabaab militants, others are on death sentences, life and long imprisonment.