Failed assassination attempt kills 1 Somali soldier in prison attack

At least one soldier was killed today when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the central prison in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, a security official said.

“One of our brave soldiers lost his life as he tried to prevent the attack,” said Ahmed Arab, Security Ministry spokesman.

The main target of the attack was General Hussein Hassan Osman, commander of the Custodial Corps – a police branch which guards prisons, state media reported.

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The commander, who was inside the prison at the time of attack, survived the alleged assassination attempt.

Militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

It is unclear how the bomber managed to pass through security checks around the prison..