ISIS/ISIL claims responsibility for Bangladesh restaurant attack

Gunmen have shot dead two police officials, police said, in the first attack on a foreign restaurant in Bangladesh claimed by Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.

Around five hours into the attack, according to a jihadist threat monitoring portal, SITE Intelligence Group, IS claimed its responsibility of attacking the Spanish restaurant .

The gunmen stormed the restaurant in Bangladesh capital Dhaka's diplomatic enclave Gulshan on Friday night at about 9:00 p.m. local time.

The authenticity of the IS claim has not been confirmed by Bangladesh Police.

"Salahuddin Khan, officer-in-charge of Banani police station in capital Dhaka, was shot dead as the gunmen opened fire at the law enforcers shortly after taking hostages at the Spanish restaurant," a police official told Xinhua.

The official who did not like to be named said around midnight, another senior officer named Robiul succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the fire exchange.

At least 40 people including two more senior police officials were injured in the incident.

Dozens of people including several foreign nationals are believed to be held hostage after police exchanged fire with the group of criminals.

Sources said five to six unidentified miscreants entered the Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant where usually foreigners go for eating and opened gunfire around 9:20 p.m.local time.

As a huge number of policemen cordoned off the restaurant, the miscreants opened fire at the law enforcers.

Attackers also hurled bombs at policemen.

It is not immediately known whether the injured people included a foreigner.

"We're trying to end the hostage crisis peacefully," Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Chief Benzir Ahmed told journalists in his brief comment.

He could not tell immediately how many people are caught up inside the restaurant.

Bangladesh have already called in personnel from all of its special forces to end the crisis.

Sources said gunmen have been asking to release a leader of banned militant outfit JMB who has recently been arrested.

Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh or JMB, campaigning for establishment of Islamic rule in Bangladesh, carried out a series of bombings in 63 out of the country's 64 districts, including capital Dhaka on August 17, 2005, leaving two people dead and 150 others injured.

Hundreds of JMB leaders and activists were rounded up while six top leaders of the group, including Shaikh Abdur Rahman, were hanged in 2007.

According to the sources, the gunmen are also demanding safe exit for them.
 [Xinhua-globaltimes.cn]
2/7/16
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• Seven Italian nationals are believed to be in the cafe, the Italian ambassador in Dhaka, Mario Palma, was quoted as saying by Italian media.

A Japanese government spokesman said Tokyo was investigating reports that some of its citizens were among the hostages.
The attack comes after a spate of murders of secular bloggers, gay activists, academics and members of religious minorities, blamed on Islamist militants....BBC
2/7/16