Suspected terrorists barged into a popular restaurant in the high-security Gulshan diplomatic area here on Friday night and took hostage at least 15 people. The hostages included several foreigners. Security forces immediately cordoned off the area and engaged in a fierce gun battle with the terrorists. At least two policemen were killed and nearly 30 people injured in the exchange of fire.
At least nine gunmen shouting “Allahu Akbar” entered the Holey Artisan Bakery, frequented by diplomats and expatriates, and opened indiscriminate fire at around 9.20 p.m. (local time).
Besides several foreigners, including Italians and Japanese, locals were also feared to have been taken hostage inside the restaurant, said police.
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“We are trying to negotiate with the gunmen,” Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) chief Benazir Ahmed told the media. “Our first priority is to save the lives of the people trapped inside.”
The officer in charge of nearby Banani police station, Salahuddin Ahmed, was killed in the gun battle. At least 30 people and policemen, including an Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, were injured in the firefight.
The attackers hurled bombs from inside the restaurant, and were firing intermittently.
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MEA sources in New Delhi said they were monitoring the situation.
( With PTI inputs )