20 hostages killed, 13 saved in Bangladesh cafe attack

Twenty people, said to be foreigners, were killed during an attack by suspected Islamic militant on a cafe in Bangladesh, the military said.

About 35 people were taken hostage when gunmen stormed the popular Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka's Gulshan area, a diplomatic zone, late on Friday. Two police officers were killed at the start of the attack before troops entered almost 12 hours later.

Bangladeshi forces stormed to end hostage-taking by heavily armed militants. Killed six of the attackers and rescuing 13 captives including foreigners. The military said 20 hostages were killed during the 10-hour standoff, and a survivor's father said the attackers spared people who could recite verses from the Qur'an.

Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzy confirmed the Italians were killed.

He offered condolences to the victims 'families and referring to the attackers, saying: "Our values are stronger than hatred and terror."

Itlian news agency, Ansa, said up to 10 Italians may be unaccounted for. Italian press said that many of them eat at a cafe worked in the garment industry.

The attack marks an escalation in militant violence that has hit the traditionally moderate Muslim-majority nation with increasing frequency in recent months. Previous attacks involved machete-wielding men singling out individual activists, foreigners and religious minorities.

Paramilitary troops who mounted the rescue operations in the morning killed six attackers and recovered explosive devices and sharp weapons from the scene, Brig. Gen. Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdury said. He did not identify the hostages.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, and she said security officials arrested one of the militants.

"Anyone who believes in religion cannot do such act," Hasina said. "They do not have any religion, their only religion is terrorism."

Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Koichi Hagiuda said seven other Japanese citizens were in the cafe, but the government has not been able to contact them.

India's Extenal Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj confirmed that a young Indian woman was among those killed in the attack.

Two Sri Lankans also were rescued. Others included an Argentine, one Japanese and two Bangladeshis, local media reported.

The Amaq news agency, affiliated with IS, also posted photos purportedly showing hostages' bodies. The authenticity of the images could not be confirmed.

The Gulshan district is a high-security area and considered among the safest places in Dhaka. Several embassies and non-governmental organizations are based in the neighbourhood and hundreds of foreigners and wealthy Bangladeshis live there.

The government had stepped up security after an Italian aid worker was killed in the area by suspected militants in 2015. It's difficult to travel through Gulshan without passing through a security check post. But the latest attack has shown that even Gulshan is not safe.

The recent attacks in Bangladesh have raised fears that religious extremists are gaining a foothold in the country, despite its traditions of secularism and tolerance.



source:
The Guardian & BBC News