Bangladeshi
police stormed a restaurant in the capital Dhaka and rescued up to 10
hostages on Saturday, one official said, after an attack claimed by
Islamic state.
police stormed a restaurant in the capital Dhaka and rescued up to 10
hostages on Saturday, one official said, after an attack claimed by
Islamic state.
Gunmen
attacked the upscale cafe in the diplomatic area of Dhaka late on
Friday and had been holding about 20 hostages, including foreigners,
before police poured into the building to try to free those stuck
inside. At least two police were killed.
attacked the upscale cafe in the diplomatic area of Dhaka late on
Friday and had been holding about 20 hostages, including foreigners,
before police poured into the building to try to free those stuck
inside. At least two police were killed.
A
police officer at the scene said that when security forces tried to
enter the premises at the beginning of the siege they met a hail of
bullets and grenades.
Television
footage showed a number of police being led away from the site with
blood on their faces and clothes. Heavily armed officers were seen
milling on the street outside.
The number of hostages still in the restaurant was unclear, Mizanur
Rahman Bhuiyan, a deputy director at the Rapid Action Battalion force,
told Reuters.
Bhuiyan told Reuters
one foreigner, probably Japanese, was among those who escaped after more
than 100 commandos launched an operation to secure the restaurant.
Islamic
State, which has claimed the attacks, posted photos of what it said
were dead foreigners killed in the assault on the cafe, where police
believe eight to nine gunmen are holed up and armed with assault rifles
and grenades.
State, which has claimed the attacks, posted photos of what it said
were dead foreigners killed in the assault on the cafe, where police
believe eight to nine gunmen are holed up and armed with assault rifles
and grenades.
Gowher
Rizvi, an adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told
Reuters that security forces had tried to negotiate a way out of the
crisis.
Rizvi, an adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told
Reuters that security forces had tried to negotiate a way out of the
crisis.
Police
said the gunmen attacked the Holey Artisan restaurant in the Gulshan
district of Dhaka, popular with expatriates, in an assault that began
around 9 p.m local time on Friday. The assailants exchanged sporadic
gunfire with police outside for several hours after the attack.
said the gunmen attacked the Holey Artisan restaurant in the Gulshan
district of Dhaka, popular with expatriates, in an assault that began
around 9 p.m local time on Friday. The assailants exchanged sporadic
gunfire with police outside for several hours after the attack.
Islamic
State said 24 people had died. Bangladesh police denied that, saying
two police officers had been killed and at least 20 people wounded.
State said 24 people had died. Bangladesh police denied that, saying
two police officers had been killed and at least 20 people wounded.
Italian and Indian nationals were among the hostages, said a duty officer at Rapid Action Battalion’s (RAB) control room.
Italy’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Mario Palma, told Italian state TV seven Italians