Dhaka – A total of 28 people, including 20 hostages, six attackers and two senior police officials were killed in a Gulshan restaurant attack in the city’s diplomatic zone that also left 20 policemen injured, UNB news agency reported.
Director (Military Operation) Brig Gen Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury came up with the figure at a press briefing at the Army Headquarters on Saturday afternoon.Twenty people, who were held hostage at Holey Artisan Bakery, were killed Friday night by ‘sharp weapons’, he said.
Their identities are yet to be known but it seems all of them are foreign nationals.
Chowdhury said they decided to conduct operation ‘Thunderbolt’ at the directive of the head of the state and said there has been no injury during the joint drive – comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force, Rab, BGB and police.
He said six of the attackers were killed during the drive and they arrested one ‘suspect’.
The official said they started the operation Thunderbolt at 7:40am on Saturday and killed all the terrorists inside the restaurant within 12-13 minutes. “The drive saw a successful ending at 8:30am.”
He also said they rescued 13 people, including a Japanese citizen and two Sri Lankan nationals, during the drive.
The gunmen attacked the restaurant around 8:45pm and the gunshots erupted at the restaurant around 9:15pm after police rushed in on information.
He said the criminals opened fire and threw grenades at the law enforcers from inside the restaurant, leaving many injured.
Two senior police officials were killed in an exchange of gunfire between police and gunmen who stormed into a Spanish restaurant in the city’s Gulshan area at night.
The deceased were identified as assistant commissioner of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Rabiul Islam and officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station Salauddin Khan.
A 30-member Navy commando team reached the spot around 1:15 am on Saturday apparently to launch a drive in order to end the hostage crisis.
An armored personnel carrier (APC) reached the spot around 7.20am on Saturday and special teams of different law enforcement agencies took position around Holey Artisan Bakery where a gunfight broke out between police and gunmen on Friday night and took the inmates hostage.
They started their commando drive around 7.40am and brought the situation under control within 12-13 minutes. They ended their all activities around 8.30am.
They rescued a total of 13 people, including three foreigners. Of the rescued foreigners, one was a Japanese citizen and two Sri Lankan nationals.
Six attackers were gunned down and another suspected attacker was arrested.
The bodies were sent to the Combined Military Medical College Hospital for autopsy.
