In pictures: Dhaka hostage crisis
- Published
At dawn, armoured personnel carriers and trucks carrying commandoes rolled through the streets of Dhaka, as Bangladeshi forces launched an operation to recue hostages
Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard outside the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan
Relatives of the hostages had been waiting anxiously for news. This couple just heard their son and daughter-in-law were among those rescued
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said more than a dozen had been rescued but some had been killed. She said six attackers were also killed
All 20 of those killed were foreigners, the army said - many of those killed are believed to be Japanese and Italian
Two police officers were killed and 30 were injured in gun battles in the early hours.
The so-called Islamic State said it had carried out the attack on the restaurant, which was popular with expatriates, diplomats and middle-class families.
High-profile gun attacks are extremely rare in Bangladesh but the country has seen a series of murders which have been widely blamed on Islamist extremists.
As the security forces were trying to negotiate the hostages' release, a bomb disposal unit was seen being prepared to be deployed.
- Published2 July 2016
