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| Commandos storm expat restaurant after terrorists kill 20 in Bangladesh | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 13-hour hostage crisis in the heart of Dhaka was brought to an end after commandos stormed a restaurant popular with expatriates that had been seized by Islamist gunmen. | A 13-hour hostage crisis in the heart of Dhaka was brought to an end after commandos stormed a restaurant popular with expatriates that had been seized by Islamist gunmen. |
| Many of the 20 people killed by the group of seven militants in the Holey Artisan Bakery were foreigners who had been deliberately singled out and hacked to death with knives. Two policemen also died during the initial stages of the crisis. | Many of the 20 people killed by the group of seven militants in the Holey Artisan Bakery were foreigners who had been deliberately singled out and hacked to death with knives. Two policemen also died during the initial stages of the crisis. |
| The attack was claimed by Islamic State, which said the cafe was attacked because it was “frequented by foreigners”. A further 26 people were wounded by militant gunfire. | The attack was claimed by Islamic State, which said the cafe was attacked because it was “frequented by foreigners”. A further 26 people were wounded by militant gunfire. |
| The scale and ambition of the assault marks a troubling new development for a country increasingly racked by murders of liberal bloggers and secularists by violent Islamists. The restaurant opened two years ago in the plush and heavily secured Gulshan diplomatic neighbourhood of the Bangladeshi capital, which is home to several embassies and an international school. With its large garden and Spanish cuisine it is a popular haunt for expats and well-heeled Bangladeshis. | The scale and ambition of the assault marks a troubling new development for a country increasingly racked by murders of liberal bloggers and secularists by violent Islamists. The restaurant opened two years ago in the plush and heavily secured Gulshan diplomatic neighbourhood of the Bangladeshi capital, which is home to several embassies and an international school. With its large garden and Spanish cuisine it is a popular haunt for expats and well-heeled Bangladeshis. |
| Related: Inside Bangladesh’s killing fields: bloggers and outsiders targeted by fanatics | Related: Inside Bangladesh’s killing fields: bloggers and outsiders targeted by fanatics |
| Mohammad Jasimuddin, a kitchen worker who escaped over a barbed wire fence, said he initially thought the attackers were robbers when he heard them storm the building at 9.30pm. “We thought they were dacoits and would leave after looting money and valuables,” he said. “I heard them screaming, ‘Allahu Akbar’ and firing shots.” But rather than leaving, the attackers went to the second floor, from where they fired repeatedly, he said. | Mohammad Jasimuddin, a kitchen worker who escaped over a barbed wire fence, said he initially thought the attackers were robbers when he heard them storm the building at 9.30pm. “We thought they were dacoits and would leave after looting money and valuables,” he said. “I heard them screaming, ‘Allahu Akbar’ and firing shots.” But rather than leaving, the attackers went to the second floor, from where they fired repeatedly, he said. |
| Rezaul Karim, the grandfather of a 13-year-old girl who had been celebrating her birthday with her parents and younger sister, who were all taken hostage, said the gunmen set about killing foreigners. “They did not behave rough with the Bangladesh nationals,” he told The Daily Star, a Bangladeshi paper. “They provided night meals for all Bangladeshis.” | Rezaul Karim, the grandfather of a 13-year-old girl who had been celebrating her birthday with her parents and younger sister, who were all taken hostage, said the gunmen set about killing foreigners. “They did not behave rough with the Bangladesh nationals,” he told The Daily Star, a Bangladeshi paper. “They provided night meals for all Bangladeshis.” |
| He added: “The gunmen were doing a background check on religion by asking everyone to recite from the Qu’ran. Those who could recite a verse or two were spared. The others were tortured.” | He added: “The gunmen were doing a background check on religion by asking everyone to recite from the Qu’ran. Those who could recite a verse or two were spared. The others were tortured.” |
| Among the locals killed was arts aficionado Ishrat Akhond. One of Akhond’s friends, the celebrated musician Maqsoodul Haque, said: “She died yesterday because some of her friends came from abroad and, typical of her, she took them out for dinner.” | Among the locals killed was arts aficionado Ishrat Akhond. One of Akhond’s friends, the celebrated musician Maqsoodul Haque, said: “She died yesterday because some of her friends came from abroad and, typical of her, she took them out for dinner.” |
| Security forces closed roads up to 10km away from the restaurant and ordered street lights to be turned off while hostage negotiators attempted to bring the siege to an end. Authorities finally launched Operation Thunderbolt to retake the restaurant at 7.40am on Saturday. | Security forces closed roads up to 10km away from the restaurant and ordered street lights to be turned off while hostage negotiators attempted to bring the siege to an end. Authorities finally launched Operation Thunderbolt to retake the restaurant at 7.40am on Saturday. |
| Six militants were killed and one jihadi was captured during the operation, while two Sri Lankans and one Japanese citizen were among the 13 hostages rescued. A spokesman for the Japanese government said that seven of its citizens remained unaccounted for. According to Italy’s foreign minister, Paolo Gentiloni, at least nine Italians were among the dead. | Six militants were killed and one jihadi was captured during the operation, while two Sri Lankans and one Japanese citizen were among the 13 hostages rescued. A spokesman for the Japanese government said that seven of its citizens remained unaccounted for. According to Italy’s foreign minister, Paolo Gentiloni, at least nine Italians were among the dead. |
| Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, announced two days of national mourning. Speaking on television she hailed the work of the security forces. “We were able to save 13 hostages,” she said. | Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, announced two days of national mourning. Speaking on television she hailed the work of the security forces. “We were able to save 13 hostages,” she said. |
| Vowing to stop violent extremism, she said that pious Muslims should have been praying at the time of the attack, particularly during the fasting period of Ramadan, “a month of self-restraint”. “What sort of Muslims are they that they don’t offer prayers and instead do such a thing?” she asked. | Vowing to stop violent extremism, she said that pious Muslims should have been praying at the time of the attack, particularly during the fasting period of Ramadan, “a month of self-restraint”. “What sort of Muslims are they that they don’t offer prayers and instead do such a thing?” she asked. |
| Hasina’s government has cracked down on domestic radical Islamists by making scores of arrests. It has accused local terrorists and opposition political parties – especially the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its Islamist ally Jamaat-e-Islami – of orchestrating the violence in order to destabilise the nation, which both parties deny. | Hasina’s government has cracked down on domestic radical Islamists by making scores of arrests. It has accused local terrorists and opposition political parties – especially the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its Islamist ally Jamaat-e-Islami – of orchestrating the violence in order to destabilise the nation, which both parties deny. |
| About two dozen atheist writers, publishers, members of religious minorities, social activists and foreign aid workers have been killed since 2013. On Friday, a Hindu temple worker was hacked to death by at least three assailants in south-west Bangladesh. Another Hindu priest was badly injured in a machete attack in the country’s south-west Satkhira district. | About two dozen atheist writers, publishers, members of religious minorities, social activists and foreign aid workers have been killed since 2013. On Friday, a Hindu temple worker was hacked to death by at least three assailants in south-west Bangladesh. Another Hindu priest was badly injured in a machete attack in the country’s south-west Satkhira district. |
| In a press conference, Nayeem Ashfaque Chowdhury, a brigadier general, said a huge cache of homemade explosives was recovered from the restaurant as well as a number of AK-22 semiautomatic rifles. | In a press conference, Nayeem Ashfaque Chowdhury, a brigadier general, said a huge cache of homemade explosives was recovered from the restaurant as well as a number of AK-22 semiautomatic rifles. |
| The bodies of 20 people were recovered, most of whom had been “killed brutally with sharp weapons”, he said. | The bodies of 20 people were recovered, most of whom had been “killed brutally with sharp weapons”, he said. |
| Although Isis was quick to publish photos it claimed were of dead hostages taken from inside the restaurant, some analysts questioned whether the group was really responsible. They say al-Qaida in the Indian subcontinent, a relatively new franchise of the terror organisation, is more active inside the Bangladeshi capital. | Although Isis was quick to publish photos it claimed were of dead hostages taken from inside the restaurant, some analysts questioned whether the group was really responsible. They say al-Qaida in the Indian subcontinent, a relatively new franchise of the terror organisation, is more active inside the Bangladeshi capital. |
| Shehryar Fazli, an analyst from the International Crisis Group, said the stance of the country’s increasingly authoritarian government had weakened security forces and emboldened militant groups. | Shehryar Fazli, an analyst from the International Crisis Group, said the stance of the country’s increasingly authoritarian government had weakened security forces and emboldened militant groups. |
| “As political tensions between the government and opposition have become more acute, rule of law and governance have broken down,” he said. “With law enforcers busy pursuing opposition leaders and activists, militants have found space to regroup in a climate of impunity, injustice and extreme political polarisation.” | “As political tensions between the government and opposition have become more acute, rule of law and governance have broken down,” he said. “With law enforcers busy pursuing opposition leaders and activists, militants have found space to regroup in a climate of impunity, injustice and extreme political polarisation.” |
| Fazle Arshad Haque, the uncle of a man who had visited the restaurant on Friday night, blamed the country’s dysfunctional politics. The military confirmed that his cousin, a Canadian citizen, was one of the hostages and that he had survived the attack. | Fazle Arshad Haque, the uncle of a man who had visited the restaurant on Friday night, blamed the country’s dysfunctional politics. The military confirmed that his cousin, a Canadian citizen, was one of the hostages and that he had survived the attack. |
| “When you push people to a corner they have nothing to lose,” he said. “Bangladesh is not prepared for these sorts of unprecedented events.” | “When you push people to a corner they have nothing to lose,” he said. “Bangladesh is not prepared for these sorts of unprecedented events.” |