| Dhaka, Bangladesh (Lima Charlie News) – #Dhaka, #Bangladesh: at 1925(~)ZULU+2 JUL1 reports of gunfire were reported across the news wires. Local chatter indicated that the gunfire was occurring in the diplomatic area of #Dhaka, Bangladesh. 5 minutes later, the area of the fire exchange was narrowed down to #Gulshan, a prominent area of the capital. The location is Holey Artisan bakery and operates from the same building at Road-79 in Gulshan 2.
At 1935(~)ZULU+2 JUL1 The Bangladesh Daily Star reported that several gunmen had entered the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe and opened fire on Friday evening.
“According to intelligence gathered by our correspondent at spot, about five assailants entered one Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant on Road 79 and opened gunfire around 9:20pm.
Huge number of policemen and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members cordoned off the restaurant. Assailants were hurling bombs when this report was filed around 10:46pm.
Several people including policemen are believed to have been shot at scene. Televisions were covering the incident live and showed some people shot.”
At 1938(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 The OSINT indicated that a number of foreign nationals were trapped in the area.
Local News reported that : “Sumon Reza, a kitchen staff of Holey Artisan Bakery, who managed to escape said several armed assailants entered the restaurant around 8:45pm and took the chief chef hostage.
“They blasted several crude bombs causing wide-scale panic among everyone. I managed to flee during this confusion,” he said.”
And as such, at 1939(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 following OSINT indicated that 3 people were shot at 2230 local event time. 2 being police personnel. According to OSINT received, local police were confirming and stating accordingly.
1940(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 the BBC editor for the area, South Asia editor Jill McGivering, stated that while attacks involving weapons were rare in Bangladesh – a recent spike in homicides were being blamed on “Islamist extremists.” Having said that, it is not clear who or what is behind this attack. At this stage (writing as if present) we do not know if it is an organized attack of a wider scope even. We do know that the cafe that is involved in this attack is popular with diplomats, the middle-class “western oriented” people, and expatriates however. At this stage we also “know” that, reportedly, the individuals that intruded into the cafe shouted “Allahu Akbar”. And that the US embassy in Dhaka tweeted that there were “reports of shooting and hostage situation”.
1942(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 The police are gathering outside/in the area according to OSINT. No activity. There is no clear indicator of who is behind the attack.
1943(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 Reports have it that the Government is requesting a halt in live feeds etc of broadcast for security purposes. Also a public announcement across media that they want to talk with those inside the restaurant, including the gunmen. Police Special Operations units, Rapid Action Battalion(RAB), are being deployed and taking charge according to wire.
1944(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT(N-W, DC) indicate that the number of hostages are believed to be in the 20s (number of).
1944(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT All the TV Channels have stopped broadcasting live here in Bangladesh.
1944(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT Border Guard Bangladesh has also joined in the operation.
1959(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT Indian NDTV reporting 2 diplomats killed – this has NOT been confirmed locally or anywhere else.
2000(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT DMP Bomb Disposal Unit deployed to site.
2001(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT Dhaka Tribune via Government Statement; “apparent terrorist attack”.
2001(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT According to OSINT reports, 20 hostages are all foreigners.
2004(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT There are reports of 2 people dead and 15 injured. As of yet, these are unconfirmed. Officer in charge of Banani Police station in Dhaka has succumbed to his injuries. Confirmed by local TV channel.
2008(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT Grenades being thrown. Live feed. Interruption.
2008(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OSINT Lori Ann Walsh Imdad, principal of American Standard School, wrote on her Facebook page: “Terrorists broke in and shot the Italian baker and his wife and took about 20 foreigners hostage. This is a block from my place so I have a front row seat to the police action.”
2012(~) ZULU+2 JUL1 OF—— 7 attackers in total. They have separated locals and foreigners, left side of building foreigners, right side locals. Left side has explosives.
2030 ZULU+2 JUL1 Gunfire. Explosion reported. Twitter/Witness video indicate massive fire exchange.
2032 ZULU+2 JUL1 Police and special forces are sealing off the area. Media is asked to leave.
2033 ZULU+2 JUL1 The United States Embassy has confirmed that all of its staff in the area are safe and well.
2040 ZULU+2 JUL1 Dhaka Tribune have stated that “So far, more than 24 police members have susteained injuries.”
2042 ZULU+2 JUL1 RD FEED;;; UNCONF;;;; “Rabiul Islam, assistant commissioner of Detective Branch of Police, succumbed to his injuries at United Hospital, police confirmed.”
2044 ZULU+2 JUL1 2 LEO dead.
2044 ZULU+2 JUL1 Ansar-al-Islam (AAI) has claimed responsibly.
2049 ZULU+2 JUL1 SITE INTEL; OSINT; Amaq News Agency reported that ISIS fighters carried out the attack at a restaurant in Dhaka.
2050 ZULU+2 JUL1 Internet in area shut down reported.
2055 ZULU+2 JUL1 UNCONF; OSINT; SITEINT; UNCONFIRMED: 20 people dead, see below link. No confirmation.
2055 ZULU+2 JUL1 CNN states “40+ injured.”
2056 ZULU+2 JUL1 Dhaka Daily “25 Police officers injured and are currently admitted in United Hospital. ”
2059 ZULU+2 JUL1 LIVE FEED INTERRUPTION ;;; OSINT INT;;;;
2059 ZULU+2 JUL1 Individuals held hostage identified as Italian(3), Banglades(4), Argentinia(1), There are claims that there are 24 dead – This is unconfirmed at this time. The two confirmed dead are first responders K.I.A.; 30 of the injuries are police.
#Dhaka At 0820 ZULU+6 JUL2, 10+ people have been rescued frmo the hostage situation inside the restaurant, including a foreigner says Mizanur Rahman, assistant director of RAB (legal and media wing) . They are being taken to a hospital. About 15 minutes earlier an large RAB Quick Response Force unit had entered the perimeter, and an intense gunfight had begun. This according to an interview given by Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, a deputy director at the Rapid Action Battalion force, to Reuters.
RAB had contact throughout the ordeal with one of the men being held hostage through a cellphone. The whole series of event took 11 plus hours.
Police reported 2 police officers(some reports say 4 however) have been killed and at least 20 people wounded, some seriously. The Amaq news agency, which is linked to the militants, claimed more than 20 people were killed in the attack. Authorities deny that report. The exact number of casualties has not been confirmed. The attackers are believed to have been killed in the RAB insertion into the restaurant.
While the attackers themselves have not directly claimed affiliation with ISIS, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack. The identity of the attackers is not yet fully known.
#Dhaka 0930 ZULU+6 JUL2 (AP wire) “The sound of two big explosions has been heard from inside the Dhaka restaurant where security forces battled militants holding dozens of hostages, and a police official says five bodies were seen lying in pools of blood.
Security forces stormed the restaurant early Saturday to end the 10-hour standoff with militants.
In Tokyo, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Hagiuda says 12 people were rescued in the raid, including two foreigners, but he couldn’t say if they were Japanese.
About 35 people were taken hostage, including about 20 foreigners. ”
0610 ZULU+2 JUL2 – #Dhaka Update in numbers: According to local media: Appx 8 attackers. 1 mile from U.S. Embassy. 5 attackers killed, 1 Captured, 2 unaccounted for.
30+ hostages. 18 people rescued.
5 bodies recovered.
4 Officers Killed.
30+ soldiers injured.
Security forces stormed after failed negotiations.
10 minute gun fight. – DhakaTribune
0623 ZULU+2 JUL2 – #Dhaka Quick point: Several different Islamic Extremist groups are claiming responsibility for the attack, including ISIS. And at this time, none of these claims have any conclusive evidence, and local authorities have not confirmed/stated any strong ties to either. The attackers have not made any public claims to belonging to any particular group so far.
ISIS affiliated online accounts did publish photos that were allegedly from the inside of the restaurant. Showing bodies etc. However, these photos are not confirmed as belonging to the incident, nor are they in any shape or form conclusive evidence.
0633 ZULU+2 JUL2 – #Dhaka Rashed Nizami, reporter for local news tv channel Channel4, “LEOs talked to hostages inside. The assailants questioned the hostages on the basics of Islam and behaved rudely. Some explosions being heard due to bomb disposal. At least 4-5 assailants captured alive/dead.Hostages were asked to recite the Sura Fatiha – a basic hymn of Islam.”
Rashed Nizami, Channel4, “One foreign national confirmed alive.”
UPDATE:
#Dhaka Hostages were killed last night during the first hours of the crisis. Assailants used sharp weapons.
Confirmed Death Count: 20. 5 Terrorists have been killed and 1 is under custody.
The RAB name for the counter-terrorism operation that ended the hostage situation is allegedly Operation Thunderbolt.
John Sjoholm, Lima Charlie News
John Sjoholm is Lima Charlie’s Middle East Bureau Chief, Managing Editor, and founder of the consulting firm Erudite Group. A seasoned expert on Middle East and North Africa matters, he has a background in security contracting and has served as a geopolitical advisor to regional leaders. He was educated in religion and languages in Sana’a, Yemen, and Cairo, Egypt, and has lived in the region since 2005, contributing to numerous Western-supported stabilisation projects. He currently resides in Jordan. Follow John on Twitter @JohnSjoholmLC
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