MikeLigalig.com

Bangladesh hostage crisis ends, six ISIS militants killed

DHAKA, July 2 (PNA/PTI) -- Bangladesh's worst hostage crisis ended Saturday with heavily-armed commandos storming a restaurant popular with expatriates here in the diplomatic enclave and killing six ISIS militants who had been holding many people, including foreigners, captive for more than 12 hours.

Gunshots and sounds of explosion rocked the area at 7:40 AM (local time) as security forces launched an offensive to end the siege at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan diplomatic zone.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said security forces "successfully" wrapped up their operation, freeing 13 hostages after killing six terrorists and capturing one militant at the Spanish restaurant.

"I thank Allah as we were able to eliminate the terrorists and rescue the hostages," she said at a function, an hour after army commandos, joined by other security and law enforcement agencies, freed the hostages.

"We could rescue 13 of the hostages, some with wounds...

But none of the terrorists could flee the scene, six of them were killed on the spot and one was captured alive," Hasina said, without specifying the exact number of casualties in the hostage drama.

The Premier also did not elaborate as to how many hostages were inside the restaurant. Earlier reports had suggested that over 30 people were held hostage, 20 of them being foreigners.

Among those rescued were Indian, Sri Lankan and Japanese nationals, media reports said.

Hasina reaffirmed her commitment to eradicate militancy and terrorism saying, "Our government will do everything to uproot the militants and violent extremists in the country".

She also questioned the terrorists' identity as Muslims, saying, "What sort of Muslims are they?".

"They (gunmen) defied the call of Ramadan's (special) prayers and went to kill people...the way they killed people is intolerable. They don't have any religion...terrorism is their religion," Hasina said.

An RAB official said at least five bodies were recovered during the raid, but did not confirm whether they were of hostages or gunmen.

The hostage crisis followed a Friday night gun-battle with police that left at least two senior officers dead and 40 people injured.

Fire-fighters rushed to the scene after the raid this morning with extinguishers, probably to put out flames from explosions. A medical team also rushed to the scene with stretchers.

Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack through its Amaq news agency, nearly four hours after the hostage crisis unfolded, according to the US-based SITE Intelligence group, which monitors jihadist activity online.

It later issued a number of photographs of what it said were scenes from inside the restaurant.

The pictures showed what appeared to be a number of bodies lying in pools of blood. (PNA/PTI)

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=82477.0