20 ‘foreign’ hostages killed after Islamic State militants storm Bangladesh restaurant
Nine Italians, seven Japanese and one Indian said to be among those killed
Bangladeshi forces stormed an upscale Dhaka restaurant to end a hostage-taking by heavily armed militants early on Saturday, killing 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 Koran.
They do not have any religion, their only religion is terrorism
Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni said nine Italians were killed, and India’s government confirmed an Indian woman was killed.
The Japanese government said that the deaths of seven Japanese nationals in the terror attack have been confirmed. The overall toll of 28 dead included two police officers who were killed at the start of the attack.
The hostage-taking marked a sharp escalation of the 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.
About 35 people were taken hostage on Friday night when gunmen stormed the popular Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, a diplomatic zone, during the Ramadan holy month.
Paramilitary troops who mounted the rescue operations in the morning killed six attackers and recovered explosive devices and sharp weapons from the scene, Brigadier General Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury said. He did not identify the hostages.
