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| Bangladesh militants exchange fire with police at Eid prayers | Bangladesh militants exchange fire with police at Eid prayers |
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| Terrorists in Bangladesh hurled homemade bombs and fought a gun battle with police guarding a large Eid prayer gathering on Thursday morning. Two officers, a woman and one suspected militant were killed, while at least 12 others were injured, officials said. | |
| At least one of the bombs exploded during the prayer attended by hundreds of thousands of people at the sprawling Sholakia grounds in the district of Kishoreganj, about 60 miles (90km) north of the capital, Dhaka. The grounds hold the largest open-air gatherings for the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. | At least one of the bombs exploded during the prayer attended by hundreds of thousands of people at the sprawling Sholakia grounds in the district of Kishoreganj, about 60 miles (90km) north of the capital, Dhaka. The grounds hold the largest open-air gatherings for the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. |
| After the blast, police fired on the attackers and killed one of them, Asst Supt Tofazzal Hossain said. The country’s information minister said the target of the attack was the police convoy patrolling the religious gathering. | After the blast, police fired on the attackers and killed one of them, Asst Supt Tofazzal Hossain said. The country’s information minister said the target of the attack was the police convoy patrolling the religious gathering. |
| Up to nine police constables were injured in the attack, minister Hasanul Haq Inu told Indian broadcaster CNN-News 18. | Up to nine police constables were injured in the attack, minister Hasanul Haq Inu told Indian broadcaster CNN-News 18. |
| Police cordoned off the area and searched the devotees as well as nearby houses for suspects in hiding, said local resident Shafiqul Islam, who was among those praying. | Police cordoned off the area and searched the devotees as well as nearby houses for suspects in hiding, said local resident Shafiqul Islam, who was among those praying. |
| The violence comes just days after a deadly hostage crisis in which 28 people were killed, including 20 hostages, two police and six of the attackers. Most of the hostages killed during the Friday night attack on a Dhaka restaurant were foreigners from Italy, Japan and India, raising international concerns about escalating extremist violence in Bangladesh. | The violence comes just days after a deadly hostage crisis in which 28 people were killed, including 20 hostages, two police and six of the attackers. Most of the hostages killed during the Friday night attack on a Dhaka restaurant were foreigners from Italy, Japan and India, raising international concerns about escalating extremist violence in Bangladesh. |
| The ongoing spate of attacks, which began in 2013, has generally targeted atheists, religious minorities and others considered by militants to be “enemies of Islam”. | The ongoing spate of attacks, which began in 2013, has generally targeted atheists, religious minorities and others considered by militants to be “enemies of Islam”. |
| There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday’s attack, but the government said it was carried out by domestic militants fighting to destabilise the secular government of Sheikh Hasina, and establish Islamic rule in the Muslim-majority nation. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday’s attack, but the government said it was carried out by domestic militants fighting to destabilise the secular government of Sheikh Hasina, and establish Islamic rule in the Muslim-majority nation. |
| “It is a totally political move. They are out to destabilise the government. It is a political attack to oust and topple the secular government of Sheikh Hasina,” Inu said. | “It is a totally political move. They are out to destabilise the government. It is a political attack to oust and topple the secular government of Sheikh Hasina,” Inu said. |
| Though Islamic State has claimed many past attacks, including the hostage-taking, Hasina’s government has dismissed those claims as opportunistic and says none of the attacks have been orchestrated from abroad. | Though Islamic State has claimed many past attacks, including the hostage-taking, Hasina’s government has dismissed those claims as opportunistic and says none of the attacks have been orchestrated from abroad. |
| Instead, Hasina’s government has accused her political opponents of backing the militant agenda in Bangladesh, an allegation the opposition parties vehemently deny. | Instead, Hasina’s government has accused her political opponents of backing the militant agenda in Bangladesh, an allegation the opposition parties vehemently deny. |
| On Wednesday, Isis released a video warning of more attacks in Bangladesh, according to the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi activity online. | On Wednesday, Isis released a video warning of more attacks in Bangladesh, according to the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi activity online. |
| Many Bangladeshis have said they were horrified by the attacks, but determined to stand against them. | Many Bangladeshis have said they were horrified by the attacks, but determined to stand against them. |
| “The rise of such a minuscule militancy can be rooted out very soon,” said Dhaka resident Mohammad Nizam Uddin Jitu. | “The rise of such a minuscule militancy can be rooted out very soon,” said Dhaka resident Mohammad Nizam Uddin Jitu. |
| “The people of this country are united,” he said. “The people of this country are peace-loving. The people of this country never support militancy.” | “The people of this country are united,” he said. “The people of this country are peace-loving. The people of this country never support militancy.” |