Bangladesh police chief says two terror attack suspects in custody

Two suspected gunmen in the Dhaka cafe terror attack have been detained, says Bangladesh Police chief AKM Shahidul Hoque.

“They are being treated at hospital, after which we will interrogate them,” the inspector general of police told the media on Monday, but did not disclose their identities.

He said that the process was on to initiate a case over the terror attack at the cafe in Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan neighbourhood.

On Friday night, the Holey Artisan Bakery and O’ Kitchen restaurant came under attack by gunmen who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’.

The assailants took a number of hostages and killed two policemen, who had tried to end the siege.

Commandos stormed the eatery, which was popular among foreigners in Dhaka, the next morning and rescued 13 hostages.

IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque

The Army said six attackers had been killed and another caught alive during the rescue operation.

It also said 20 hostages were found dead on the premises.

They included nine from Italy, seven from Japan, an Indian citizen and three Bangladeshis, one of whom was a US citizen.

Amid the hostage crisis, police detained a man early on Saturday near the cafe, who was covered in blood and seemed to be ‘suspicious’.

Police, however, are yet to disclose his identity or give any details whether he is still held or released. 

After the army commando raid at the restaurant, at least 27 people, including rescued hostages, were taken to the Detective Branch (DB) office.

Several of them were released after their statements were recorded.

A senior DB officer told bdnews24.com that at least two of the rescued hostages are still in police custody.

They are Tahmid Hasib Khan and Hasanat Reza Karim, a former teacher of North South University.

Tahmid went to the cafe to hang out with his friends. The 22-year-old, who recently came back from Canada, is the son of businessman Shahriar Khan.

Karim’s relatives told police that he had gone to the restaurant with his wife and two children to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.

“The two have been not arrested. Their statements are being verified,” said the police deputy commissioner, asking not to be named.

The photos of five attackers, published by SITE Intelligence and reportedly released by the Islamic State, includes Nibras Islam, a student of the same university where Karim had taught.

Dhaka Metro Police chief Asaduzzaman Mia said on Monday that one of the suspected attackers was being treated at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but did not disclose his identity.