Bangladesh
Holey Artisan Bangladesh marks 7 years of Holey Artisan attack
Dhaka, July 1: It has been seven years since the terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan of the capital. A total of 22 people including 17 foreigners were killed in the terrorist attack on the night of July 1, 2016. Two of them were police officers. Many policemen were injured by the bullets and bombs of the militants.
Despite several preparations, security forces refrained from raiding Holy Artisan at night due to sensitive considerations. The hostage-taking ended in Operation Thunderbolt, conducted by para-commando members of the army the next morning, killing five of the attackers.
After this terrible terrorist attack, the blue-print of this infernal massacre of terrorists started coming out in the investigation of the law enforcement forces. At various times, the issue of the collaboration of international terrorist organizations with this attack came into discussion. However, those involved in the investigation said that all the militants involved in the attack were 'home grown'. Some members of the JMB were re-energized and carried out this hellish killing spree, termed as the 'New JMB'.
On November 27, 2019, the court sentenced seven accused to death and acquitted one in this case. What Happened That Day: 1st July 2016 was a Friday. In the evening, news suddenly came that the police were firing with 'terrorists' in Gulshan. It was learned through social media that armed attackers entered a restaurant and took several people hostage.
Later, it was learned that the attackers took several hostages including foreign nationals in the restaurant. At one point, it is known that militants attacked Holy Artisan Bakery on Gulshan Road No. 79.
In the case of the hostage crisis, from the evening of July 1 to the whole day and night of July 2, the world's media focused on the Holy Artisan Bakery located in the elite Gulshan area of Dhaka. Witnesses heard gunshots at the scene at 9:20 p.m. Banani Police Station OC Mohammad Salauddin was injured in the firing around 9:30 pm. He was taken to the hospital.
Later that night, the Islamic State militant group, on its news agency Amaq, claimed responsibility for the Gulshan attack and reported that 20 people had been killed. IS claimed five of the attackers as their 'soldiers' and claimed responsibility for the attack.
