Bangladeshi forces stormed an upscale Dhaka restaurant to end a hostage-taking by militants early Saturday, killing six of the attackers and rescuing 13 captives. However, the military said 20 other hostages had been killed during the 10-hour standoff, and officials from Japan said seven of its citizens were unaccounted for, reports AP. Most of the dead were killed by "sharp weapons," said authorities, per Reuters. About 35 people were taken hostage, including about 20 foreigners, when gunmen stormed the popular Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan area, a diplomatic zone, on Friday night during the Ramadan holy month. Two police officers were killed at the start of the attack. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, and she said security officials arrested one of the militants.
A Japanese government spokesman said that a Japanese hostage was rescued with a gunshot wound but seven others are unaccounted for. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Hagiuda said that the eight were together at the restaurant during the attack. Two Sri Lankans also were rescued. Others included an Argentine and two Bangladeshis, local media reported. On Friday evening, many people headed to the popular bakery and restaurant that serves Spanish food and is patronized by residents of Gulshan, an affluent neighborhood where most of the foreign embassies are located. The restaurant overlooks a lake and on pleasant evenings, diners often chose to eat outdoors. Rezaul Karim, the father of a Bangladeshi businessman who was rescued along with his family, said the attackers did not harm any hostage who could recite verses from the Quran. (More Bangladesh stories.)
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