Bangladesh attack: 4 members of Islamist militant group arrested
In July 2016, an upmarket café in Dhaka, Bangladesh witnessed the worst militant attack in the country, killing 22 people, most of whom were foreigners. On Wednesday, Bangladesh security forces captured four members of a faction of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the militant group believed responsible for the attack. The four were arrested in a raid on a house on the outskirts of Dhaka.
- Upmarket Cafe in Dhaka invaded
- Islamic State claims responsibility
- Dhaka seige ends with 13 hostages rescued
- Rising trend of Militant Attacks
- Affluent kids carried out Dhaka attack
- Bangladesh identifies Dhaka attack masterminds
- Bangladesh arrests JMB militants linked to Dhaka siege
- Bangladesh authorities identify 10 masterminds of Dhaka attack
- Dhaka attack mastermind killed
- Bangladesh arrests Dhaka cafe attack mastermind
Upmarket Cafe in Dhaka invaded
On 1st July, 2016, at 9.20 pm (Bangladesh local time), at least nine terrorists attacked the Holey Artisan Bakery. 20 people in the cafe which is frequented by diplomats and expatriates, were taken as hostages by the gunmen. In a gun-battle with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, two senior officers died and as many as 40 people were wounded; some by gunshots and others by shrapnel.
Islamic State claims responsibility
According to Amaq, a media branch of the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), the terror group asserted responsibility of the attack. However, the U.S State Department said that information was being assessed and could not be confirmed yet.
Dhaka seige ends with 13 hostages rescued
Gun fighting at the besieged cafe in the Bangladeshi capital ended on the morning of 2nd July, 2016, with the commandos having rescued around 13 hostages. Before the arrival of the police, the cafe in the diplomatic region of Dhaka was attacked by gunmen who held 20 hostages. Apart from the locals, Italians, Japanese and Indian nationals were believed to be amidst those held.
Rising trend of Militant Attacks
The Dhaka hostage crisis is the most recent amidst the surge of killings that Bangladesh is witnessing. So far, secular bloggers, academics and religious minorities such as Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and Sufi Muslims have been victimised.
Affluent kids carried out Dhaka attack
Investigators revealed that the perpetrators of the Dhaka attack were affluent kids who attended top schools in the country. The three were identified as Rohan Ibne Imtiaz, Shamim Mubashir and Nibras Islam all from affluent families. Rohan Ibne Imtiaz has been identified as the son of a ruling Awami league official. The accused were identified after officials released their photographs to the public.
Bangladesh identifies Dhaka attack masterminds
Authorities in Bangladesh have stated that the masterminds of the Dhaka attack have been identified after extensive investigations. However, "in the interest of the investigation", authorities refused to divulge any more details. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that the perpetrators will be "exposed to justice." Bangladeshi authorities continue to deny that ISIS militants were behind the deadly attacks.
Bangladesh arrests JMB militants linked to Dhaka siege
Bangladeshi officials raided a residence and arrested 4 members of the Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh in connection with the Dhaka siege. Authorities recovered pistols, ammunition, 8 bombs, bomb-making equipment and Jihadi literature from the house in Tongi, north of Dhaka. The men are suspected to be involved in recruiting and training terrorists to fight against Government forces in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh authorities identify 10 masterminds of Dhaka attack
Authorities in Bangladesh have revealed that they have gathered information on 10 people connected to the Dhaka siege. Authorities have been investigating the attacks over the last 2 months and said they have found 10 people who supplied money, arms and training to the perpetrators of the attack. The location of 6 of these people has been confirmed by investigating officers.
Dhaka attack mastermind killed
One of the accused mastermind's of last year's siege at an upmarket cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh was killed during a pre-dawn raid on Friday. The body of Nurul Islam Marzan was found with another body of a suspected extremist after a property at Dhaka's Rayer Bazar neighbourhood was raided by the police. It remains unclear whether Marzan died in a gunfight or committed suicide.
Bangladesh arrests Dhaka cafe attack mastermind
Bangladeshi authorities have arrested Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen recruiter Jahangir Alam alias Rajib alias Gandhi, the alleged mastermind of the Dhaka cafe attacks. Bangaldesh's Counter-Terrorism and Transnational police unit chief Monirul Islam said Alam was one of the "key players" in the attack on the Dhaka cafe in July 2016. He said Alam also confessed to plotting attacks on the Eid congregation in Sholakia.
