The hostage crisis at an upscale Dhaka restaurant where heavily armed militants held dozens of people hostage Saturday morning, came to an end after Bangladeshi forces stormed the building killing six of the attackers and rescuing at least 13 captives including foreigners at the end of the 10-hour standoff.
Unconfirmed reports also suggest that a terrorist was captured alive during the operation after around 100 commandos entered the restaurant building.
It is still unclear whether an Indian was amongst the hostages although the MEA confirmed on Saturday morning that all the embassy officials were safe.
About 35 people were taken hostage, including about 20 foreigners, when gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan area, a diplomatic zone, on Friday night.
He said there were casualties among other hostages, but did not provide details.
Masud said the rescued included a Japanese, who was injured, and two Sri Lankans. He said that some of the militants were captured.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi activity online.
The Amaq news agency also posted photos purportedly showing the bodies of hostages. The authenticity of the pictures could not be confirmed either.
With the sound of gunfire and explosions, local TV stations reported that the rescue operation began at 7:40 a.m. It included army personnel with automatic weapons and at least seven armored vehicles and ambulances.
Local media reported that an Argentine and two Bangladeshis also were rescued from the restaurant early Saturday, but details about their condition were not immediately available.
The attack marks an escalation in the growing drumbeat of militant violence to hit the traditionally moderate Muslim-majority nation in the past three years, but with increasing frequency in recent months. Most attacks have been by machete-wielding men singling out individual activists, foreigners and religious minorities.
Bangladesh did not immediately respond to the claim of responsibility by IS, but in the past have denied that the extremist group has a presence in the country. The U.S. State Department said it had seen the IS claim, but could not confirm its authenticity.
The attackers "have not responded to authorities' calls for negotiation," said Masud.
He said that the security cordon would prevent any of the attackers from escaping. Authorities also ordered internet services to be blocked across the country, according to internet service provider Aamra.
Police said the two officers died at a hospital after being wounded in the initial gunfire with as many as nine attackers, who also hurled bombs.
Ten of 26 people who were wounded when the militants opened fire were listed in critical condition, and six were on life support, according to hospital staff. The injuries ranged from broken bones to gunshot wounds. Only one civilian was among the wounded.
The nationalities of the hostages were not immediately clear. On Saturday, Japan's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said at a hastily called news conference in Tokyo that the government is trying to confirm that Japanese were among the hostages. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that saving lives is the top priority.
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