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Dhaka firefight in Bangladesh restaurant: Gunmen and police in shootout
July 2, 20164:26am
UP to nine gunmen have taken about 20 people hostage in an upmarket restaurant in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka after exchanging fire with police.
“Unknown number of people are still inside but we cannot confirm whether they are held hostage,” Gulshan area police officer Sayedur Rahman said.
Assailants entered Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant on Road 79 in the Gulshan area and opened fire at around 9:20pm (11:20pm Friday AEST).
Several foreigners are believed to be among those still inside the restaurant.
Sumon Reza, a kitchen worker who escaped the attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery, told reporters the attackers were armed with firearms and bombs as they entered the restaurant.
Jamuna Television, quoting Reza, said the attackers chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) as they launched the attack.
A huge contingent of security guards cordoned off the area around the restaurant, trading gunfire with the attackers who set off bombs and exchanged gunfire with the security officials.
Benazir Ahmed, director general of the elite anti-crime force Rapid Action Battalion, told reporters security forces were working to save the lives of the people trapped inside.
“Some derailed youths have entered the restaurant and launched the attack. We have talked to some of the people who fled the restaurant after the attack. We want to resolve this peacefully. We are trying to talk to the attackers, we want to listen to them about what they want,” Mr Ahmed said. “Some of our people have been injured. Our first priority is to save the lives of the people trapped inside.”
Two police officers were seriously injured in the gunfight, private television station Channel 24 said.
The US Embassy in Dhaka said on its Twitter feed there were “reports of shooting and hostage situation”.
It warned people in the area to “please shelter in place and monitor news”.
In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters: “We are aware of reports of what appears to a hostage situation in the Gulshan neighbourhood of Dhaka.”
He said the department is aware that local security forces are on the scene, responding, and the US Embassy is in constant touch with Bangladeshi authorities concerning what is a “very fluid, very live situation”.
Mr Kirby said the embassy has accounted for 100 per cent of American citizens that are under the authority of the diplomatic chief of mission in Dhaka.
He said it was too early to say who was involved in the assault and their motivation.
Bangladesh has been reeling from a wave of murders of religious minorities and secular activists by suspected Islamist militants.
Earlier on Friday a Hindu temple worker was hacked to death in western Bangladesh.
Posted for fair use.....
http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/d...t/news-story/e7e81640fc0c305065ccfff1be9a752d
Dhaka firefight in Bangladesh restaurant: Gunmen and police in shootout
July 2, 20164:26am
UP to nine gunmen have taken about 20 people hostage in an upmarket restaurant in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka after exchanging fire with police.
“Unknown number of people are still inside but we cannot confirm whether they are held hostage,” Gulshan area police officer Sayedur Rahman said.
Assailants entered Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant on Road 79 in the Gulshan area and opened fire at around 9:20pm (11:20pm Friday AEST).
Several foreigners are believed to be among those still inside the restaurant.
Sumon Reza, a kitchen worker who escaped the attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery, told reporters the attackers were armed with firearms and bombs as they entered the restaurant.
Jamuna Television, quoting Reza, said the attackers chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) as they launched the attack.
A huge contingent of security guards cordoned off the area around the restaurant, trading gunfire with the attackers who set off bombs and exchanged gunfire with the security officials.
Benazir Ahmed, director general of the elite anti-crime force Rapid Action Battalion, told reporters security forces were working to save the lives of the people trapped inside.
“Some derailed youths have entered the restaurant and launched the attack. We have talked to some of the people who fled the restaurant after the attack. We want to resolve this peacefully. We are trying to talk to the attackers, we want to listen to them about what they want,” Mr Ahmed said. “Some of our people have been injured. Our first priority is to save the lives of the people trapped inside.”
Two police officers were seriously injured in the gunfight, private television station Channel 24 said.
The US Embassy in Dhaka said on its Twitter feed there were “reports of shooting and hostage situation”.
It warned people in the area to “please shelter in place and monitor news”.
In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters: “We are aware of reports of what appears to a hostage situation in the Gulshan neighbourhood of Dhaka.”
He said the department is aware that local security forces are on the scene, responding, and the US Embassy is in constant touch with Bangladeshi authorities concerning what is a “very fluid, very live situation”.
Mr Kirby said the embassy has accounted for 100 per cent of American citizens that are under the authority of the diplomatic chief of mission in Dhaka.
He said it was too early to say who was involved in the assault and their motivation.
Bangladesh has been reeling from a wave of murders of religious minorities and secular activists by suspected Islamist militants.
Earlier on Friday a Hindu temple worker was hacked to death in western Bangladesh.
