IS claims credit for attack on police in Dhaka
International militant organisation Islamic State (IS) claimed the responsibilities of the bomb attack at Science Lab intersection in the capital that injured two policemen, including a security person of local government and rural development minister Tazul Islam.
SITE Intelligence Group, an American company that tracks online activity of white supremacist and jihadist organisations around the globe, said this in a tweet.
The tweet read: “IS Claims Credit for Bomb Blast on Police in Bangladeshi Capital.”
The injured policemen were identified as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sahabuddin and traffic police constable Aminul.
They were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
LGRD minister Tazul Islam was on the way to attend a wedding ceremony at Simanta Square in the capital’s Dhanmondi area at that time.
As the minister’s car got stuck in traffic jam in Science Lab intersection, a member of his security team went to talk to the traffic policeman to clear the road. The bomb exploded at that time, around 9:20pm.
Minister Tazul Islam’s car was only 100 yards away from the explosion spot, the minister told Prothom Alo over the cell phone.
The law enforcement could not immediately find out the persons responsible for the explosion.
Earlier on 30 April, a hand grenade was hurled at the traffic police in Dhaka’s Gulistan area.
Later on 26 May, a pick-up van of police came under a bomb attack in front of the Malibagh office of Special Branch (SB).
Police also said there is a similarity between the Saturday night’s bomb attack at Science Lab intersection with the attacks carried out on 30 April and 26 May.
“Two members of police were injured in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) explosion. This is similar to the attacks carried out aiming at police in Malibagh and Gulistan,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary, who visited Science Lab area around 11:30pm.
He said the investigation will reveal the motive of the attack.
Earlier around 11:00pm in the night, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia told newsmen that police was the target of the attack.
The attackers failed due to the fences on the road divider, he added.
The DMP commissioner further said attacks on police have increased as the force carried out all out drives to eradicate militancy from the country.
Besides of those attacks, police on the night of 24 July recovered bomb-like objects from areas near the Paltan and Khamar Bari police checkpoints in Dhaka. IS claimed the responsibilities at that time too.
Meanwhile, a case has been filed with New Market police station in connection with the attack on police in the capital’s Science Lab intersection area on Saturday night.
Sub inspector (SI) at Science Lab police box, Jahirul Islam, filed the case accusing several unidentified persons. The case was filed under the Explosive Control Act.