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ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attack in Bangladesh Targeting Shias ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attack in Bangladesh
(about 2 hours later)
DHAKA — Three bombs exploded early Saturday morning during a giant procession in the Bangladesh capital honoring the Shia Muslim holiday of Ashura, killing at least one person, wounding dozens more, and further fraying nerves in a city already on edge over reports of extremist threats. DHAKA, Bangladesh — Three bombs exploded early Saturday morning during a giant procession here in the Bangladesh capital honoring the Shiite Muslim holiday of Ashura, killing at least one person, wounding dozens more and further fraying nerves in a city already on edge over reports of extremist threats.
A suspected Islamic State account issued a statement online claiming responsibility for the bombing, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist messages and propaganda. A social-media account believed to be operated by the Islamic State group issued a statement online claiming responsibility for the bombing, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist messages and propaganda.
The statement said “soldiers of the Caliphate in Bangladesh” were able to detonate explosives in a temple of “polytheists in the city of Dhaka, during the holding of their polytheist rituals.”The statement said “soldiers of the Caliphate in Bangladesh” were able to detonate explosives in a temple of “polytheists in the city of Dhaka, during the holding of their polytheist rituals.”
It was the third act of violence in Bangladesh that an Islamic State account has claimed in the last month, after the murders of two foreigners, an Italian man and a Japanese man. It was the third act of violence in Bangladesh that an Islamic State account has claimed in the past month, after the murders of two foreigners, an Italian man and a Japanese man.
The Ashura procession, organizers say, has proceeded uneventfully for 400 years, drawing throngs of Sunni Muslims who wind through the narrow streets of Old Dhaka alongside their Shia neighbors.The Ashura procession, organizers say, has proceeded uneventfully for 400 years, drawing throngs of Sunni Muslims who wind through the narrow streets of Old Dhaka alongside their Shia neighbors.
There is virtually no history of sectarian tension between Bangladesh’s Sunnis and its tiny minority of Shia. There is virtually no history of sectarian tension between Bangladesh’s Sunnis and its tiny minority of Shiite Muslims.
Shia who proceeded to march later in the day said they were still grappling with the notion that terrorists might target Bangladeshis based on their sect. Shiite Muslims who proceeded to march later in the day said they were still grappling with the notion that terrorists might attack Bangladeshis based on their sect.
“Earlier, Pakistan was the country where the Shia were under attack,” said Syed Ibrahim Khalil Razavi, who was walking barefoot down a major thoroughfare at the head of a procession that numbered in the thousands.“Earlier, Pakistan was the country where the Shia were under attack,” said Syed Ibrahim Khalil Razavi, who was walking barefoot down a major thoroughfare at the head of a procession that numbered in the thousands.
“Now they target Shias in other countries, like Syria and Iraq,” he said. “I suppose we cannot rule out the possibility that this could happen in Bangladesh.”“Now they target Shias in other countries, like Syria and Iraq,” he said. “I suppose we cannot rule out the possibility that this could happen in Bangladesh.”
The attack came as a new jolt to a city already anxious over Islamist violence.The attack came as a new jolt to a city already anxious over Islamist violence.
After years of relative dormancy, militant groups have become more visible over the last several years, carrying out grisly murders on Bangladeshi activists and writers who are openly critical of fundamentalist Islam, and releasing “hit lists” of others. After years of relative dormancy, militant groups have become more visible over the past several years, killing Bangladeshi activists and writers who were openly critical of fundamentalist Islam, and releasing “hit lists” of others.
Late last month, several foreign governments reported that they had gathered intelligence suggesting that an international terrorist organization was planning an attack on foreigners on Bangladeshi soil. That announcement was followed, ominously, by the shootings of two foreigners, each of which was claimed by social media accounts linked to Islamic State. Late last month, several foreign governments reported that they had gathered intelligence suggesting that an international terrorist organization was planning an attack on foreigners in Bangladesh. That announcement was followed, ominously, by the shootings of two foreigners, each of which was claimed by social media accounts linked to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
Bangladeshi authorities have questioned that claim, instead tracing the crimes to activists for a banned pro-Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the opposition Bangladeshi National Party. On Saturday, the ruling Awami League issued a statement blaming the attack on the Bangladeshi National Party and Jamaat-e-Islami. Bangladeshi authorities have questioned that claim, saying that they had traced the crimes to activists from a banned pro-Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the opposition Bangladeshi National Party. On Saturday, the governing Awami League issued a statement blaming the Bangladeshi National Party and Jamaat-e-Islami for the attack in Dhaka.
“There is no existence of Islamic State in Bangladesh,” said Quamrul Islam, Bangladeshi’s food minister, who visited the site of the bombing on Saturday.“There is no existence of Islamic State in Bangladesh,” said Quamrul Islam, Bangladeshi’s food minister, who visited the site of the bombing on Saturday.
The attack on Saturday targeted an event that is the highlight of the year for Dhaka’s Shia minority, and which underlines its easy relationship with the Sunni majority. The Dhaka attack struck an event that is the highlight of the year for Dhaka’s Shiite minority, and which underlines its easy relationship with the Sunni majority.
“This is the old part of Dhaka,” said Mir Zulfikar Ali, president of the Hossaini Welfare Association, which helps to coordinate the event. “The Sunnis were born, the Shia were born, they grew up over decades and they developed brotherly relations.”“This is the old part of Dhaka,” said Mir Zulfikar Ali, president of the Hossaini Welfare Association, which helps to coordinate the event. “The Sunnis were born, the Shia were born, they grew up over decades and they developed brotherly relations.”
He added, “somebody from outside is trying to destroy this brotherly relation. I do not know who it is.” “Somebody from outside is trying to destroy this brotherly relation,” he added. “I do not know who it is.”
More than 40,000 people were gathered at the procession’s start when three large explosions occurred, each at an interval of around 15 seconds. Security camera footage shows a densely packed crowd surging back away from the first explosion, only to recoil from a second in the direction they were running. More than 40,000 people were gathered at the procession’s start when the first explosion occurred, followed by two others about 15 seconds apart. Security camera footage shows a densely packed crowd surging away from the first explosion, only to recoil from the second one in the direction they were running.
“People tried to go anywhere to save their lives, they were just running, it was complete panic,” Mr. Ali said.“People tried to go anywhere to save their lives, they were just running, it was complete panic,” Mr. Ali said.