Saturday, July 2, 2016

Dhaka attackers spared hostages who could recite Quran verses: Survivor

Dhaka attackers spared hostages who could recite Quran verses: Survivor

The attackers who stormed a restaurant in Dhaka’s diplomatic quarter spared hostages who could recite verses from the Quran but tortured and killed others, according to a rescued hostage.
WATCH: Dhaka cafe siege victims killed 'with sharp weapons'
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Hasnat Karim and his wife Sharmin had gone with their eight-year-old son Rayan and 13-year-old daughter Safa to Holey Artisan Bakery in the posh Gulshan area on Friday night to celebrate Safa’s birthday.
The celebration was rudely interrupted when the attackers barged into the restaurant and took dozens, including foreigners, hostage.
Hostages who could recite from the Quran were spared, Rezaul Karim, the father of Hasnat Karim, was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.
“The gunmen were doing a background check on religion by asking everyone to recite from the Quran. Those who could recite a verse or two were spared. The others were tortured,” Rezaul said.
“They (gunmen) did not behave rough with the Bangladesh nationals,” he quoted his son as saying. “Rather they provided night meals for all Bangladeshis.”
According to Rezaul, the gunmen were “done with the foreign nationals dining in the eatery by 11.00pm” on Friday.
After being held inside the restaurant for more than 10 hours, the Karim family was rescued during an operation by the police, army, Border Guard Bangladesh, and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Saturday morning.
Hostage sends text messages
© Provided by Hindustan Times
Soumir Baroi, who works at the restaurant, desperately texted his younger brother Gopal Baroi while hiding in a bathroom at the hotel. Gopal initially tried to reach his brother over phone at 9.30 pm Bangladesh time but got no response, The Daily Star reported.
At 10pm, Soumir texted: “Me and nephew are fine. Locked in the bathroom.” This was followed by another text at 1.44am: “What is the situation outside?”
Gopal responded: “RAB is overlooking everything. They are doing all they can do, so that you all are not harmed.”
A minute later, Soumir texted to his brother to take steps to free him. “Chhoto Mamun knows where our toilet is. We are there. If you can, please break the wall and take us.”
During another exchange of texts at 2.15am, Gopal wrote: “Do they (attackers) know you are in the toilet?”
Soumir: “Yes.”
Gopal: “Are they saying anything to you?”
Soumir: “They don’t want anything. They have locked us.”
Gopal: “Dada please sit on a side of the toilet. They may fire.”
Soumir: “Yes we are.”
Around 5am, Gopal again asked his brother if he was safe and told him: “We all pray for you so that you come back safe and sound.” Soumir replied he was safe and added: “May be RAB will enter now. Please come to the toilet soon. It is painful here.”
Gopal responded that he had informed a security official about their plight. Soon after, Gopal sent another text to his brother but got no response.
Gopal was quoted by The Daily Star as saying that he had been unable to contact his brother after the security forces stormed the restaurant at 7.40 am on Saturday.
The restaurant’s manager, Sumon Reza, who managed to escape, said the attack started with an explosion. He said the attackers shouted “Allahu Akbar” or “God is great”.
He said there were eight attackers, heavily armed with knives, firearms and explosives.
PICS: Shooting and hostage situation in Dhaka
  • Bangladeshi security officers cordon off an area after heavily armed militants attacked a restaurant in Bangladesh's diplomatic zone on Friday night, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, July 2, 2016. Bangladeshi forces stormed the popular Holey Artisan Baker
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  • Bangladesh Navy's Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) soldiers sit inside a vehicle near the site of an attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, July 2, 2016. Bangladeshi forces stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan area where heavily
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  • Indian activists participate in a candle light vigil protesting the Bangladesh restaurant attack, in Kolkata, India, Saturday, July 2, 2016.
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  • Bangladeshi security personnel stand guard outside a restaurant during an attack in Dhaka's high-security diplomatic district early on July 2, 2016. Gunmen stormed a crowded restaurant popular with foreigners in the Bangladeshi capital on July 1 night, a
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  • Ambulances carrying bodies head for hospitals after an operation against militants who took hostages at a restaurant popular with foreigners in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, July 2, 2016. Bangladeshi forces stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan area where heavily armed militants held dozens of people hostage Saturday morning, rescuing some captives including foreigners at the end of the 10-hour standoff. (AP Photo)
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  • A relative tries to console Semin Rahman, covering face, whose son is missing after militants took hostages in a restaurant popular with foreigners in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, July 2, 2016. Bangladeshi forces stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan area where heavily armed militants held dozens of people hostage Saturday morning, rescuing some captives including foreigners at the end of the 10-hour standoff. (AP Photo)
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  • An armored vehicle comes out after an operation against militants who took hostages at a restaurant popular with foreigners in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, July 2, 2016. Bangladeshi forces stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan area where heavily armed militants held dozens of people hostage Saturday morning, rescuing some captives including foreigners at the end of the 10-hour standoff. (AP Photo)
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  • Army soldiers patrol in a boat on a lake near the Holey Artisan restaurant after Islamist militants attacked the upscale cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 2, 2016. Mahmud Hossain Opu/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE....
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  • Bangladeshi security personnel cordon off the area after a group of gunmen attacked a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, July 2, 2016. Heavily armed militants struck at the heart of Bangladesh's diplomatic zone on Friday night, taking dozens of h
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  • DHAKA, BANGLADESH - JULY 1: Police officers take security measures after armed attackers attack to a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 1, 2016. (Photo by Zakir Hossain Chowdhury/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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  • Security personnel check vehicles after gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan restaurant and took hostages, in the Gulshan area of Dhaka, Bangladesh July 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain
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  • Members of the Rapid Action Battalion are seen outside the Holey Artisan restaurant, where gunmen had taken hostages, in the upscale Gulshan area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 2, 2016. REUTERS/REUTERS
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  • An injured member of the police personnel is carried away by his colleagues, after gunmen stormed a restaurant popular with expatriates in the diplomatic quarter of the Bangladeshi capital, in Dhaka July 1, 2016. Courtesy of Dhaka Tribune/Mahmud Hossain
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  • DHAKA, BANGLADESH - JULY 2: Bangladeshi bomb disposal unit being suited up after an attack at a restaurant nearby in the early hours of July 2, 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Gunmen have taken at least 20 foreigners hostage at a restaurant in the diplomatic
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  • A policeman stands at the entrance to a riot vehicle outside the Holey Artisan restaurant, where gunmen had taken hostages, in the upscale Gulshan area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 2, 2016. REUTERS/REUTERS
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  • Bangladeshi security personnel stand guard near a restaurant that has reportedly been attacked by unidentified gunmen in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, July 1, 2016. Local media reported that a group of attackers took hostages inside a restaurant frequented
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  • DHAKA, BANGLADESH - JULY 2: Bangladeshi police take cover near a restaurant that has been attacked by unidentified gunmen in the early hours of July 2, 206 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Gunmen have taken at least 20 foreigners hostage at a restaurant in the dip
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  • DHAKA, BANGLADESH - JULY 2: Bangladeshi security stand guard near a restaurant that has been attacked by unidentified gunmen in the early hours of July 2, 206 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Gunmen have taken at least 20 foreigners hostage at a restaurant in the
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  • DHAKA, BANGLADESH - JULY 1: An injured police officer is seen after armed attackers attack to a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 1, 2016. (Photo by Zakir Hossain Chowdhury/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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  • DHAKA, BANGLADESH - JULY 1: Police officers take security measures after armed attackers attack to a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 1, 2016. (Photo by Zakir Hossain Chowdhury/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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  • U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby speaks about a hostage situation at a restaurant in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, during a press briefing in Washington DC, U.S. July 1, 2016. State TV/via Reuters TV. ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDE
1/21 SLIDES © AP Photo
A group of assailants armed with hand grenades and guns stormed Holey Artisan Bakery, killing at least 20 hostages, in Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka on July 2, 2016. Six gunmen and two police officers have died in the 10-hour standoff. Another 13 were rescued after security forces stormed the upscale restaurant. The IS-linked Amaq news agency issued a statement, claiming the group was responsible for the attack.
(Pictured) Bangladeshi security officers cordon off the area.
(With agency inputs)
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