Bangladesh declares end to hostage siege, six gunmen killed
About nine Daesh militants have taken as many as 20 people, including foreigners, hostage at a café in a diplomatic area in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. Police have engaged in a gun battle with the attackers and so far four police officers have lost their lives and about 40 people injured.
Here are the latest updates about the incident:
- Police declared an end to the hostage crisis, saying six armed men have been killed in the clashes.
- Citing Bangladeshi police, the Japanese government says the number of those rescued so far stands at 12. Security sources also said five dead bodies were found scattered on the ground inside the restaurant.
- One foreigner, probably Japanese, managed to flee the hospital. Tokyo says it cannot still confirm whether Japanese citizens were among those rescued.
- State media say eight to 10 hostages, including two foreigners, have been rescued from the restaurant.
- Bangladeshi security forces, including over 100 commandos, stormed the café on Saturday. “The operation has begun. Commandos have stormed the restaurant,” AFP quoted an unnamed security official as saying. A gunfight is underway with the hostage takers.
- Benazir Ahmed, chief of the Rapid Action Battalion, the country’s elite police force, says police are “trying to talk to the attackers… to save the lives of the people trapped inside."
- Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Mario Palma was quoted by Italy's state TV as saying that seven Italians are among the hostages.
- The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the restaurant “frequented by foreigners". It claims the militants have killed over 20 people "of different nationalities", but Bangladeshi officials have not confirmed the claim.
- The incident occurred at the Holey Artisan Bakery in the city's Gulshan district, at about 21:20 (13:20 GMT) on Friday.
- The café is popular with expatriates, diplomats and middle-class families, located in the vicinity of the US Embassy.
- The gunmen also resorted to hurling grenades at police.
- Police say they are trying to resolve the hostage situation peacefully, through negotiating with the attackers.
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