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Seven al-Shabab fighters who carried out an assault on a maximum-security detention facility in the capital city have been neutralized, according to official announcements.

An enormous explosion and intense gunfire were heard coming from the detention center - a facility that holds militant members - in the capital on Saturday.

In a communication, al-Shabab claimed it had released "all Muslim inmates" from the facility and inflicted heavy casualties on guards guarding the center.

The militants disguised themselves as soldiers in order to gain entry the detention facility, according to accounts published on Sunday.

The government did not disclose how many of its personnel were lost during the attack, but offered sympathies to the families of "the fallen heroes."

Likewise, the militant organization did not provide a death toll for its affiliated militants.

The confrontation started at around 16:40 local time (13:40 GMT).

The detention center is situated near the national palace compound, in the heart of Mogadishu. It is operated by the country's intelligence service and holds al-Shabab members and other notable detainees.

The assault represents a significant blow to the intelligence agency and is likely to raise questions about how the attackers were able to access one of the most heavily guarded locations in the city.

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

Hours before Saturday's incident took place, the government had reopened major roads in the capital which were previously closed for safety reasons, citing progress in the city's security situation.