20 Hostages, Including an Indian, Hacked to Death in Dhaka Attack

Gunmen stormed the eatery in Dhaka’s high-security Gulshan diplomatic area at around 9:20 pm (local time) on Friday.

• 28 killed including 20 hostages (all foreigners), two cops and six terrorists
• Rescue operations end with 13 hostages rescued
• 6 of the attackers were killed, while 1 was captured alive
• “What kind of humans are these, who are killing other humans during Ramzan?”: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina
  

• ISIS claims responsibility for the attack
  
• The restaurant was attacked by armed gunmen on Friday night

Twenty foreigners were brutally murdered with sharp weapons by militants inside a restaurant popular with expatriates in Dhaka’s high-security diplomatic zone.

Six of the attackers were killed by the rescue teams, while one was captured alive, and two others escaped.

An Indian named Tarishi Jain is among those killed. The dead also included Japanese and Italians.

Special teams from Italy and Japan will arrive in Dhaka to help with the probe. The one attacker captured alive will be quizzed by a joint team, reports CNN News18.

Elite commandos stormed the cafe on Saturday morning and killed six attackers, ending Bangladesh’s worst hostage crisis. Most of those killed were found with their throat slit, Director of Military Operations Brigadier General Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury said.

Two cops were also killed in the attack that took place at the Holey Artisan Bakery.

The security forces managed to rescue 13 people, including one Japanese and two Sri Lankan nationals.

Also Read:
Dhaka Attack Decoded: Terrorism Expert Lays It Out in 23 Tweets

PM Modi Condemns Attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack saying, he spoke to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing his grief.

The attack in Dhaka has pained us beyond words. I spoke to PM Sheikh Hasina & strongly condemned the despicable attack.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2016

India stands firmly with our sisters & brothers of Bangladesh in this hour of grief.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2016

My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that those who are injured recover quickly.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2016

What Kind of Humans Kill During Ramzan: Sheikh Hasina

In an official statement on Saturday, Hasina said that she will ensure an incident like this is never replicated in the country. Expressing gratitude to security forces, she confirmed that the rescue operation was successful.

What kind of humans are these, who are killing other humans during Ramzan?

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Bangladesh

She, however, expressed disdain towards the media, saying that several news channels flashed visuals of the rescue operations, putting the lives of those inside the restaurant at further risk.

Here’s how the attack unfolded:

A 14-Hour Long Standoff

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Amaq, a media branch of the terror outfit.

The armed gunmen stormed the crowded restaurant in Dhaka’s high-security Gulshan diplomatic area at around 9:20 pm (local time) on Friday. The attack triggered a fierce gun battle with Bangladesh security forces in which two policemen were killed and 30 people injured.

Praying for the safety of the hostages in Bangladesh. To the terrorists: We will never succumb to fear and hate. -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 2, 2016

ISIS claims responsibility for Dhaka attack. But Prime Minister Hasina has been saying there is no ISIS in Bangladesh!

— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) July 1, 2016

2 Cops Confirmed Dead

According to media reports, around nine attackers attacked the restaurant.

Banani police Officer-in-Charge Salauddin Khan, who had been injured in the face, has been confirmed dead by a top official at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Robiul Islam, Assisstant Commissioner of Uttara zone Detective Branch was also confirmed dead by top police officials, while the authorities tried to negotiate with the gunmen. Two foreign diplomats have also been confirmed dead.

Police also said they have detained two employees of the restaurant for questioning.

Foreigners Among Hostages in Siege

Several foreigners are among a number of people taken hostage in the restaurant, the chief of Bangladesh’s special police force said.

All members of the Indian High Commission are reportedly safe.

The US and the UK have issued alerts in and around the Gulshan zone, according to reports.

Benzir Ahmed, Rapid Action Battalion of Bangladesh Police Director General, has asked to not telecast a live coverage of the situation due to security reasons.

Bangladesh Has Endured a Spate of Killings

The attack on Friday came on the same day a Hindu priest was killed in a temple in Bangladesh’s southwestern district of Jhenaidah.

The country has braved a spate of killings in the recent past including those of academics, activists, and religious minorities such as Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and Sufi Muslims.

This is despite the government having launched an anti-militant crackdown, across the nation, in which more than 14,000 people were arrested.

In the atmosphere of hate, prominent Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, also received a death threat from an obscure outfit in Kerala that claims to owe allegiance to ISIS.

(With inputs for Reuters, PTI and AP.)