Timeline of Dhaka hostage crisis
A group of gunmen numbering eight to nine and aged between 20 and 28 stormed a Spanish restaurant in the diplomatic zone of Dhaka on Friday evening.
8:45pm, Friday
The gun-wielding terrorist group stormed Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant in Gulshan area of Dhaka, shouting ‘Allah Akbar’, according to one of the owners of the cafe.
10:30pm, Friday
An explosion was heard and gunshots were fired that left two police officers dead and over 50 injured.
10:30pm, Friday
Banani police officer-in-charge Salauddin and assistant commissioner of police Rabiul Islam were announced dead. They were shot in the exchange of gunshots between the law enforcers and the hostage-takers.
10:34pm, Friday
US state department spokesperson Kirby briefed on the apparent hostage situation in Dhaka.
The US spokesperson said, “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.”
“We are working with the local authorities to determine if any US citizens and locally-employed staff were affected.”
11:30pm, Friday
RAB DG Benazir Ahmed banned live telecast from the spot.
1:30am, Saturday
US-based SITE Intelligence Group posted a tweet that claimed ISIS fighters carried out the attack.
“#ISIS’ ‘Amaq News Agency reported that #ISIS fighters carried out the attack at a restaurant in #Dhaka #Bangladesh,” reads the tweet of the US-based SITE Intelligence Group.
4:00am, Saturday
Police arrested a young man shooting him in leg while running off the police arrest.
4:20am, Saturday
Italian state television said seven Italian nationals are thought to be among the hostages taken by gunmen who stormed a the Dhaka cafe Italian state television. An Italian foreign ministry source then said one Italian hostage had escaped. Italian media said the escaped man told police there were seven Italians still inside.
5:00am, Saturday
The law enforcers got ready for preparations of crackdown. Joint forces of Bangladesh Army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh, navy commandos and special force SWAT got ready for preparations of crackdown.
7:00am, Saturday
Commando force of Bangladesh Army has been deployed in the hostage area.
7:30am, Saturday
Joint commando forces of Bangladesh Army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh, navy commandos and special force SWAT started the operation to end the Dhaka hostage crisis.
7:40am, Saturday
Five people were rescued by the team of joint forces within 10 minutes of their rescue operation at a Gulshan restaurant in Dhaka. Prothom Alo correspondents reported from the scene that a SWAT team and law enforcers started their combined operation at 7:30 in the morning.
8:15am, Saturday
The joint commando forces took control of the situation in a 45-minute drive.
8:15am, Saturday
The joint commando forces took control of the situation in a 45-minute drive.
11:00am, Saturday
The joint forces ended the nearly15-hour hostage crisis at about 11:00am on Saturday morning.
A total of 20 people, including 18 foreigner nationals, were killed during the hostage situation. At least 18 people were rescued and six hostage-takers were gunned down.
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