U.S. Citizens among the 22 dead in Bangladesh ISIS terrorist hostage crisis

Three U.S. College Students among the 22 dead in Bangladesh ISIS terrorist hostage crisis

Published July 02, 2016

https://youtu.be/9tGTDj1dKqw

Two students from Emory University and one from University of California, Berkeley, were among those taken hostage and killed at an upscale restaurant in the capital of Bangladesh, the schools said Saturday.

Tarishi Jain, a sophomore at University of California, Berkeley, was in Dhaka for an internship through the college that began in early June. Jain, an Indian national, was a graduate of the American International School of Dhaka, and her father is a textile merchant based in the Bangladeshi capital. She was intending to major in economics at Berkeley, the school said.

"We are all very devastated to hear the news about Tarishi Jain. She was a smart and ambitious young woman with a big heart. Our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and the entire Berkeley community," Sanchita Saxena, executive director of the UC Berkeley's Institute for South Asia Studies and director of the Center for Bangladesh Studies, said in a statement.

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UC Berkeley sophomore Tarishi Jain is confirmed to be among the 20 people killed during the attack at a restaurant in
Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 1, 2016.

Abinta Kabir, a sophomore at Emory University, was visiting family and friends in Dhaka when she was murdered by attackers who stormed Holey Artisan Bakery in the city’s diplomatic quarter Friday night. Kabir was from Miami, Florida, the school said.

Another Emory University student, Faraaz Hossain, was also killed in the hostage situation. He was from Dhaka.

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Linkedin Faraaz Hossain is seen in this undated profile photo from his LinkedIn account.

"The Emory community mourns this tragic and senseless loss of two members of our university family," Emory University said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out on behalf of Faraaz and Abinta and their families and friends for strength and peace at this unspeakably sad time."

The school said it is offering counseling services to bereaved members of its community.

Emory University president James Wagner, writing before news of Hossain's death, said Saturday that he had been in touch with Kabir's mother, who he said was in "unspeakable pain" upon receiving word of her daughter's murder.

"Please, as you are inclined, direct your kindest thoughts and sincerest prayers in her behalf and that of her family," Wagner said in a statement today.

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Internat...02_4x3_992.jpgFacebookAbinta Kabir is seen in this undated profile photo from her Facebook page.

Kabir's mother, Ruba Ahmed, said her daughter was born in Bangladesh but grew up in Florida, where she went to school at Ada Merritt K-8 Center in downtown Miami.

"Pray for her," Ahmed told ABC's Miami affiliate WPLG today. "She was my only child and a very smart and caring person."

Kabir was a student at the school’s two-year college in Oxford, Georgia, about 38 miles from its main campus in Atlanta. Hossain had just graduated from the same two-year program, and was a junior at Emory's Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, the school said.

ISIS, the Islamic State group, has claimed responsibility for the attack in which about 35 people were taken hostage, including about 20 foreigners, during a 10-hour siege of the restaurant that is popular with foreigners. The militants killed 20 of the hostages.

In a rescue operation by Bangladeshi paramilitary troops, at least six attackers were killed, one was arrested and 13 hostages were rescued, government officials said.

Bangladeshi Brig. Gen. Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury said troops recovered explosive devices and sharp weapons from the scene.

U.S. citizens in the city were warned by the State Department to "remain vigilant" following the attack.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ry?id=40299049

20 Hostages Killed in Bangladesh Restaurant Attack, ISIS Claims Responsibility

Jul 2, 2016, 4:05 AM ET

https://youtu.be/j0gOpON4UVc

Twenty hostages were killed by militants who stormed an upscale restaurant in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka during a 10-hour siege, the Bangladeshi government announced Saturday morning.

U.S. citizens in the city were warned by the State Department to "remain vigilant" following the terror attack.

The breakdown of the victims' nationalities was unknown. But the restaurant, Holey Artisan Bakery, is located in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter and is popular with foreigners. Japan said seven of its citizens were unaccounted for.

At least six attackers were killed by Bangladeshi paramilitary troops who mounted rescue operations. One of the attackers was arrested.
The commandos also rescued 13 hostages.

Bangladesh Brig. Gen. Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury said troops recovered explosive devices and sharp weapons from the scene.

About 35 people were taken hostage, including about 20 foreigners, when militants stormed Holey Artisan Bakery Friday night.

"We have gunned down at least six terrorists and the main building is cleared but the operation is still going on," the commanding officer of Bangladeshi commandos, Lt. Col. Tuhin Mohammad Masud, told The AP three hours after the commandos launched the rescue operation.

Masud said the rescued include a Japanese, who was injured, and two Sri Lankans. Earlier, police said two hostages of Argentine and Bangladeshi descent have been rescued.

Masud said there are casualties, but did not provide details of the injuries.

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the siege as a terrorist attack. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack.

"Anyone who believes in religion cannot do such an act," Hasina said. "They do not have any religion, their only religion is terrorism." The attack occurred during the Ramadan holy month.

Restaurant staffer Sumon Reza, who escaped, told The AP the attackers chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) as they entered the restaurant, initially opening fire with blanks.

Rezaul Karim, the father of a Bangladeshi businessman who was rescued along with his family, told the AP the attackers did not harm any hostage who could recite verses from the Islamic holy book, Quran.

Karim said his son told him that the attackers "did not hit people who could recite verses from the Quran. The others were tortured," he said.

Gunfire could be heard as Bangladesh forces moved in Saturday morning to end the standoff in the country's capital.

A man who witnessed the attack told ABC News he could hear the gunshots from his balcony.

https://youtu.be/WySk3FxKUWg

Fayad Munain, who lives two streets away from the cafe where the attack occurred, said a cafe waiter told reporters that there were about six to eight gunmen who were all in their late 20s, Munain said. The waiter described the men as unshaven and said they fired three shots into the air before a "huge explosion."

Munain said he heard the explosion live and then about 5 seconds later on live television. He is an American with dual citizenship and is in Bangladesh visiting family, he said.

A Twitter post circulated by Amaq, an ISIS media outlet, said that ISIS “commandos” attacked “a restaurant frequented by foreigners in the city of Dhaka.”
U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby could not confirm that ISIS was responsible for the attack.

The Associated Press, citing local media and a witness who escaped, said as many as nine gunmen stormed a restaurant. The gunmen took hostages and exchanged gunfire with security officials.

Kirby said in a statement, "Our embassy in Dhaka has confirmed 100 percent accountability of all official American personnel with no injuries reported. We are working with the local authorities to determine if any U.S. citizens and locally–employed staff were affected."

“We join with the people of Bangladesh in expressing our outrage at this brutal act of terrorism and offer our condolences to the friends and families of the victims, including Bangladeshi law enforcement officials who have been killed or injured responding to the attack," Kirby said. "We are in ongoing contact with the Government of Bangladesh as the situation continues to unfold. We have offered our assistance in their efforts to bring to justice those responsible for these attacks and to combat terrorism and violent extremism."

A White House official said President Barack Obama was briefed on the attack by his chief counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco. The president asked to be kept informed as the situation develops, said the official.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ry?id=40283510

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Karim said his son told him that the attackers "did not hit people who could recite verses from the Quran. The others were tortured," he said.

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I have read that those who were unable to recite versus from the Quran, were either hacked or knifed to death.

This country needs a leader who will allow our military geniuses to design a strategy both within the United States and around the globe to eradicate all of these fighters. Every nation should contribute either gold, guns or man power. If you aid and abet the enemy (Iran)+++++whoever else, then you should face the wrath of the United States. Enough is enough.

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At least six attackers were killed by Bangladeshi paramilitary troops who mounted rescue operations. One of the attackers was arrested.
The commandos also rescued 13 hostages.

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It took 8 hours or them to start the rescue. I find that very disturbing.

Obama should face the wrath of the United States.

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It took 8 hours or them to start the rescue. I find that very disturbing.

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Me too. They had to have heard the screaming and merciless killings going on. All of these situations are not about turning hostages over alive after demands are met. The outcomes are all the same and the longer the police or hostage units (SWAT) waits, the more carnage there will be. Either way people are going to die senselessly, but perhaps they need to re-evaluate the unnecessary waiting time. This is a new road for hostage negotiators and the old school won't work because the hostage takers are committed to killing as many people as possible and dying themselves.

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