A heavily armed attack on Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka’s Holey Artisan Spanish restaurant situated at Gulshan area of the city at 9 PM on Friday night has killed more than 30 people on Friday night. Security forces are still on their way to eliminate or capture the armed terrorists. Among the hostages,thirteen have been rescued, according to the reports.

The attack by the terrorist has also killed two police men and 26 have been wounded. According to the reports, operation in its last stages and security forces have been successful in rescuing the hostages. However, reports of fresh firing on Saturday early morning are coming.

The deputy director of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Force, Mizanur Rahman Bhuyian said that the number of gunmen and hostages in the restaurant was not clear. He has said the no gunshots have been reported inside the restaurant since the Saturday morning. The terrorists started sporadic gunfire in the restaurant several hours later after the attack, he said.

#Bangladesh media: 13 hostages rescued says Lt Col Tuhin Mohammad Masud. This apparently includes Japanese and Indian national

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 2, 2016

Dhaka hostage crisis: Eyewitnesses to media say 5 gunmen killed, 1 captured, 2 unaccounted for (visuals of security) pic.twitter.com/X8WJaZLhjV

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 2, 2016

Dhaka hostage crisis: Visuals of the security forces from the restaurant location, ambulance also seen at the spot. pic.twitter.com/qMsJDBNIHU

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 2, 2016

Terrorist organization ISIS has claimed the responsibility for the attack despite it has been denied by the Bangladesh government several times in the past that there is a presence of ISIS in the country. The responsibility has been taken through SITE intelligence which manages Jihadis activities online. However, US has said that the reports of responsibility taken and its authenticity is still under scanner and cannot be confirmed.

Among the hostages, six are of Italian origin confirmed the officials at RAB Control Room and Italy’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Mario Palma has said, “It’s a suicide attack. They want to carry out a powerful and bloody operation and there is no room for negotiation.” Palma’s statement came after reports emerged that the security forces are trying to negotiate with the terrorists.

Bangladesh has been facing terrorism and radicalism since past few months as various activists, foreigners and religious minorities have been killed by the extremists in the country.

By Prajakt K.