Dhaka attack: 19-year-old Indian girl among 20 hostages killed, PM Modi phones Sheikh Hasina

The Indian girl who died in Dhaka was 19 years old.

We are arranging visa for the family. My officers are on the job. https://t.co/dwfPsoxutG

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 2, 2016

Tarishi was 19 years old. She passed out from American School Dhaka. Presently, she was a student at Berkeley. https://t.co/oeTViJ8Xqa

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 2, 2016

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephones his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and condemns the despicable attack in Dhaka.

The attack in Dhaka has pained us beyond words. I spoke to PM Sheikh Hasina & strongly condemned the despicable attack.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2016

India stands firmly with our sisters & brothers of Bangladesh in this hour of grief.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2016

My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that those who are injured recover quickly.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2016

India's Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj confirms the death of an Indian girl in Dhaka.

I am extremely pained to share that the terrorists have killed Tarushi, an Indian girl who was taken hostage in the terror attack in Dhaka.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 2, 2016

I have spoken to her father Shri Sanjeev Jain and conveyed our deepest condolences.The country is with them in this hour of grief.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 2, 2016

Thirteen survivors were also rescued at the end of the siege in an upmarket neighbourhood of the capital Dhaka, including three foreigners. "Three of those who were rescued were foreigners, including one Japanese and two Sri Lankans," says Brigadier General Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury.

"We`ve recovered 20 bodies. Most them had been brutally hacked to death with sharp weapons," Brigadier General Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury tells reporters in Dhaka, without giving the nationality of the victims.

20 civilians and six militants killed in Dhaka cafe siege, say Bangladeshi Army officials. The dead include foreigners.

Bangladesh hostage siege: What we know so far

"It was an extremely heinous act. What kind of Muslims are these people? They don`t have any religion," the Bangladesh PM says in a televised speech. "People must resist these terrorists. My government is determined to root out terrorism and militancy from Bangladesh."

Bangladesh is determined to fight terror, says PM Sheikh Hasina. She further hails all security agencies for their prompt response to the hijack situation.

Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina confirms that 13 hostages have been rescued. In a television broadcast, Hasina adds six gunmen have also been killed and one has been captured alive in a dawn raid on the cafe by Bangladeshi commandos.

Also Read: Hasina vows to root out terrorism after Dhaka siege

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina makes a statement on the attack.

Sri Lanka`s government said two of its nationals were among the hostages rescued and were safe and unharmed.

Tuhin Mohammad Masud said the cafe itself had been cleared but added that some of the hostage-takers might still be at large. There was no official word on the number of hostages who had been killed or wounded but Masud said that "obviously there have been casualties".

Talking to Times Now, Tuhin Mohammad Masud, a commander of the elite Rapid Action Battalion which stormed the cafe, said 13 hostages have been rescued. "Three of them are foreigners and 10 locals." 

India is closely monitoring the Bangladesh hostage crisis even as officials maintained that so far all Indian High Commission staffers in Dhaka were reportedly safe.

Bangladesh hostage crisis has ended after a commando operation. "The operation is over. The situation is completely under control," Army spokesman Colonel Rashidul Hasan told AFP. Meanwhile, Tuhin Mohammad Masud, a commander of the elite Rapid Action Battalion which stormed the cafe, told Times Now channel that there had been a number of casualties, including six hostage-takers. "

India has, meanwhile, called for quick action to adopt the long-stalled Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) and expressed disappointment that the United Nations General Assembly failed to push for its early adoption.

Amaq news agency, run by the Islamic State, said the militant group`s affiliates were responsible for an attack on a cafe in Bangladesh. A tweet from the news agency also said more than 20 people had been killed in the attack in Dhaka. 

It has been confirmed that anti-terror operation has ended. Security forces have launched a combing operation in the restaurant area.

Two big explosions heard inside Dhaka restaurant.

According to Lt Col Tuhin Mohammad Masud, the commanding officer of Rapid Action Battalion, 13 hostages, apparently including Indian and Japanese nationals, have been rescued.

The US has said it cannot yet confirm the Islamic State terror group's claim owning responsibility for the hostage crisis in a Dhaka restaurant. "We have seen ISIL (ISIS) claims of responsibility, but cannot yet confirm and are assessing the information available to us," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. According to CNN, senior US officials believe that the attack has been probably carried out by Al Qaeda in Indian Sub-continent, which was declared as a terrorist organisation by the US only a day earlier.

Around 8-10 hostages have been rescued by commandos who were still inside the besieged restaurant. The number of gunmen and hostages still in the restaurant was not clear, Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, a deputy director at the Rapid Action Battalion force, told news agency Reuters.

As per latest reports, five terrorists have been neutralised, one arrested, and two are unaccounted for.

The Bangladeshi Army Chief is at the location, says local media.

Unconfirmed report says at least 5 persons presumably hostages have been moved out via ambulances from the cafe.

More ambulances are moving into Dhaka restaurant lane. Local reporters say at least 100 commandos surrounded cafe. Retaliatory fire was also reported.

Several persons including one foreigner rescued from Dhaka restaurant, says Mizanur Rahman of RAB. They are being taken to hospital.

Several persons including 1 foreigner rescued from #Dhaka restaurant says Mizanur Rahman of RAB. They are being taken to hospital.

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 2, 2016

A witness who did not have direct access to the site of the attack in Dhaka tells CNN gunfire has stopped at the restaurant and there is an eerie silence.

#GulshanAttack: At 8:15am, an ambulance of Rapid Action Battalion is seen to pass by carrying one injured.

— The Daily Star (@dailystarnews) July 2, 2016

CNN reports more than 100 commandos are involved in the operation at the Dhaka restaurant.

The Daily Star reports hearing loud noises of probable bomb blasts from inside the cafe.

ANI reports say sniper fire can be heard from inside the restaurant.

Bangladeshi media reports loud screams can be heard as the security forces' operation continues inside the Dhaka restaurant.

An official confirmed that Bangladesh security forces including commandos have stormed the Dhaka restaurant where dozens of people including foreigners are being held hostage by suspected Islamist militants.

"The operation has began. Commandos have stormed the restaurant," the official said.

An AFP photographer at the scene said he could hear a massive gunfight as security forces launched the operation more than 10 hours after the hostages were taken.

Meanwhile, reports say an al Qaeda affiliate has also claimed responsibility for the attack in Dhaka.

The Daily Star is reporting that Bangladeshi joint forces have launched their offensive against the gunmen in Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan area of Dhaka's diplomatic zone.

Even as the hostage situation in Dhaka unfolds, there are reports that unidentified assailants have attacked a Hindu priest in Satkhira with sharp weapons, leaving him severely injured.

Also Read: Another Hindu priest attacked in Bangladesh, reported to be critical

Islamic State posted photos on Saturday it claimed to be of foreigners killed in the attack on a cafe in Dhaka, where gunmen are holding hostages.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack and said 24 people were killed. Bangladesh police have said two police officers were killed and at least 20 people wounded.

If the pictures that are circulating on social media are genuine, then the number of casualties if going to be much higher than the current two.

Reports of Japanese nationals among possible hostages in Dhaka restaurant attack.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton prayed for the safety of those taken hostage by terrorists in Dhaka and said people will never succumb to fear and hate.

Praying for the safety of the hostages in Bangladesh. To the terrorists: We will never succumb to fear and hate. -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 2, 2016

Italy`s Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni says he is closely following the situation in Dhaka, adding he is "anxious for the Italians involved". 

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is reported to have abruptly left a ceremony at the Colosseum in Rome on Friday evening to follow the hostage-taking incident, a source at his office said.

Italy`s ambassador to Bangladesh, Mario Palma, confirmed to Italian state TV that seven Italians were among the hostages.

"It is a suicide attack. They want to carry out a powerful and bloody operation and there is no room for negotiation," Palma said.

Sequence of events:

Gowher Rizvi, an adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told Reuters that the hostage crisis began when local security guards in the diplomatic enclave noticed several gunmen outside a medical center.

When the guards approached, the gunmen ran into the restaurant, which was packed with people waiting for tables, he added.

An employee who escaped told local television that there were about 20 customers at the restaurant at the time, and most of them were foreigners. The restaurant has a seating capacity of around 25 people.

There were also some 15 to 20 staff working there at the time, the employee said. 

A police officer at the scene said that when security forces tried to enter the premises at the beginning of the siege they met a hail of bullets and grenades.

Television footage showed a number of police being led away from the site with blood on their faces and clothes. Heavily armed officers could be seen milling on the street outside.

A resident near the scene of the attack told Reuters he could hear sporadic gunfire nearly three hours after the attack began. 

"It is chaos out there. The streets are blocked. There are dozens of police commandos," said Tarique Mir.

Reuters is reporting that Indian nationals are among those being held hostage at the upmarket Dhaka restaurant in the diplomatic zone. Reuters has quoted a duty officer at the Rapid Action Battalion`s (RAB) control room as making the claim.

The Islamic State, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, said 24 people had died at the restaurant. However, Bangladesh police hav denied that assertion, saying that two police officers had been killed and at least 15 people wounded.

Gowher Rizvi, an adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, tells Reuters that security forces were trying to negotiate an end to the crisis, failing which they would launch an offensive to end the siege, possibly as soon as daybreak. 

Reuters reports that the Bangladeshi police were preparing to launch an operation to free some 20 hostages, including several foreigners, from a restaurant in the capital Dhaka.

Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan of the Rapid Action Battalion added that police had not been able to communicate with the gunmen yet.

Two Bangladeshis were able to escape from the restaurant with bullet injuries, he said.

Seven Italian nationals are thought to be among the hostages taken by gunmen who stormed the Dhaka cafe popular with foreigners.

Italian state TV RAI quoted the Italian ambassador in Dhaka, Mario Palma, as saying the seven Italians were businessmen. 

An Italian foreign ministry source said one Italian hostage had escaped. Italian media said the escaped man told police there were seven Italians still inside. 

BREAKING: Bangladesh police preparing to launch operation at Dhaka restaurant, to begin at dawn

— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) July 1, 2016

The Daily Star reports cops as asking journalists and relatives of those stuck inside the cafe to move away further from the Holey Artisan for reason not clear. Could security forces be mulling to storm the restaurant?

The US State Department says the IS link to the attack cannot be confirmed as yet.

Bangladesh's Home Minister has reached the cafe in Dhaka currently under control of gunmen linked to the IS.

Bangladeshi media reports say an injured suspect has been nabbed by security men.

Anxious family members of hostages in #GulshanAttack gather near site waiting for the rescue of their loved ones https://t.co/2b7pCYHHJu

— The Daily Star (@dailystarnews) July 1, 2016

Dhaka attack in numbers, so far:

Dead - Two policemen

Injured - around 40 people

Hostages - some 20 people

Gunmen - Believed to be 8 to 9

The Daily Star reports that two hostages have been rescued by security agencies.

Italian nationals are thought to be among the hostages taken by gunmen in a Dhaka restaurant, Reuters reported.

A source at the Italian foreign ministry said it was not clear how many Italians may be involved.

CNN reports that at least 40 people have been injured in the attack on the cafe in Dhaka.

.@statedeptspox Kirby provides update on apparent hostage situation in #Dhaka, #Bangladesh https://t.co/CgwWuU2aUl

— Department of State (@StateDept) July 1, 2016

The hostage takers or gunmen in Dhaka have so far not made any demands.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a gun attack Friday on a restaurant in Bangladesh`s capital popular with foreigners that sparked a deadly firefight with police, an IS-linked news agency reported.

"Islamic State commandos attack a restaurant frequented by foreigners in the city of Dhaka," the Aamaq news agency said.

It claimed that "more than 20 people of different nationalities (were) killed".

- AFP

Also Read: IS claims attack in Bangladesh capital: jihadist news agency

News agency IANS quotes Assistant Superintendent Fazle-e-Elahi as saying that four police officers have died and the gunmen are holding approximately 40 hostages.

BREAKING: Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on cafe in Bangladesh, says more than 20 people killed: Amaq news agency

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 1, 2016

Reuters reports that US President Barack Obama has been briefed about the attack on a restaurant in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is in touch with security agencies and is monitoring the developments in Dhaka.

The attack reportedly began at 9.20 pm local time when at least nine terrorists shouting "Allahu Akbar" barged into the Holey Artisan Bakery, frequented by diplomats and expatriates, and opened indiscriminate fire, reports PTI.

PTI reports that nearly 30 people, including policemen, have been injured in the Dhaka terror attack.

The US State Department said on Friday it had accounted for all diplomatic staff at its mission in Bangladesh`s capital Dhaka following an attack by gunmen on a restaurant in the city`s diplomatic quarter.

Spokesman John Kirby, however, could not confirm whether private US citizens were caught up in a "hostage situation."

It was too early to say who was behind the attack or the motivation of the attackers. 

"We have accounted for all Americans working for the chief of mission authority" in Dhaka, Kirby told a press briefing. He said the situation was "very fluid, very live." 

Later he added: "We`re still accounting for private Americans."

- Reuters

Local media reports a third policeman has been killed in the Dhaka attack. However, the same has not been confirmed as yet.

The Daily Star is also reporting that the Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Dhaka.

"Islamic State has claimed responsibility of the attack in the Spanish restaurant at Dhaka’s Gulshan diplomatic zone where at least two police officers have died and over 20 others being held hostage. US-based SITE Intelligence Group, around 1:30 am – around five hours after the crisis began - tweeted the development quoting the Middle East terrorist outfit’s Amaq news agency," the Bangladeshi newspaper reported on its website.

ANI reports Bangladeshi media as quoting intelligence sources that ISIS has claimed responsibility for the Dhaka restaurant attack.

The second policeman confirmed to have been killed in the attack has been identified as Robiul Islam, assistant commissioner of Uttara zone Detective Branch, reports The Daily Star.

The RAB chief says the assailants had hurled bombs at police when they arrived at the scene.

The Daily Star reports another senior police official has been killed in the ongoing gunbattle in Dhaka.

"Our first priority is to save the lives of the people trapped inside," the RAB chief says.

Benazir Ahmed, chief of the Rapid Action Battalion, says "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."

The Daily Star reports that police now trying to communicate with the gunmen for negotiations.

The slain policeman has been identified as Banani police officer-in-charge Salauddin Khan.

Also Read:

No Indians in Dhaka restaurant hostage crisis, confirms MEA

Watch video: Gunmen attack restaurant in Dhaka's diplomatic zone, dozens held hostage

'Allah hu Akbar' screams were heard before several blasts earlier, reports The Daily Star. The lights of the bakery were out at that time, it adds.

Bangladesh's The Daily Star newspaper reports on its Twitter feed that a restaurant staff who managed to flee says an Argentinian and an Italian are among those held hostage.

Restaurant owner who managed to escape tells CNN that 6-8 gunmen are holding about 20 customers hostages.

US State Department says hostage situation in Dhaka is 'still fluid'. All US citizens working under chief of mission are accounted for, it adds.

Reports say one Bangladeshi police officer has been killed in the Dhaka attack and around 7-8 are wounded. Elite anti-terror forces of the Bangladesh police are also on the spot.

A series of deadly attacks, mostly using machetes rather than guns, have targeted bloggers, atheists and religious minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh in recent months.

Reuters quotes a witness as saying from his house in the area, that he could hear gunfire and the situation "looked quite bad".

Reuters quotes Dhaka police chief as saying that foreigners are among those held hostage in the Bangladesh capital by eight or nine gunmen.

The Ministry of External Affairs says all Indian High Commission officials in Dhaka are reportedly safe; the High Commission is monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi TV channels have stopped live coverage of the hostage situation after Rapid Action Battalion requested the same.

Police negotiator appeals those inside the restaurant "to talk to us... relay us your demands", reports local media.

US embassy in Dhaka tweets advisory about hostage situation in Dhaka, asks people to take shelter and monitor news.

Bangladeshi media says eight heavily armed men in their early 20s entered the Dhaka restaurant shouting slogans and have taken dozens of people hostage. A gunbattle between the gunmen and Bangladeshi security forces is on.

Bangladesh media reports say gunmen entered the Holey Artisan restaurant in the upscale Gulshan area of Dhaka and opened fire. There are reports of 20 people being taken hostage.

Breaking News: Gunmen attack restaurant in Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka's diplomatic quarter, says police.