5 killed, 12 rescued in commando operation
At least five people were killed and 12 rescued from the Spanish restaurant in Gulshan area of Dhaka on Saturday as members of law enforcement agencies claimed to have taken control of the deadly hostage situation.
However, identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.
Witnesses from the spot said a number of victims were taken away from the restaurant in seven ambulances.
Meanwhile, IS news agency Amaq Agency released photos of several bloodied bodies lying inside the restaurant. The US-based SITE Intelligence Group tweeted the photos about half-an-hour before the rescue operation.
A joint force of police, RAB, BGB, SWAT and Army members began the operation after 7:30am with continual gunfire sounds.
Prothom Alo correspondents report from the scene that a SWAT team and law enforcers started their operation under the cover of an ambulance.
Law enforcers prepared to enter the hostage spot at 5:00am. Newsmen were taken away to a safe distance before the operation.
Inspector general of police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque arrived at the scene around 6:00am.
Seven armed vehicles of Bangladesh Army took position in the area after 7:00am.
A group of youths numbering eight to nine and aged between 20 and 28 stormed the restaurant in the diplomatic zone of Dhaka around 8:30pm in Friday evening, firing gunshots and charging bombs.
It is believed that over 50 customers, including at least 20 foreigners were inside the Holey Artisan Bakery on Road 79, which is popular with foreigners. According to different news agencies, the hostages include nationals of Italy, India and Argentina.
The SITE Intelligence Group has tweeted that the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIS) claimed the responsibility for the Dhaka restaurant hostage in which at least two police officers were killed and scores injured.
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