Dhaka, nine Islamic militants killed by police

The "Storm 26" operation lasted about an hour. It involves special forces, police and anti-terrorism agents. Yesterday evening the police were attacked by grenades by militants shouting "Allahu Akbar" and returned fire in a blitz. It is the first anti-terrorist operation since Dhaka massacre.

 Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Police in Dhaka killed nine people suspected of having links to Islamic fundamentalism and has taken two more into custody. The special forces operation, called "Storm 26" took place in the early hours of today in Kallyanpur district, on the outskirts of the capital, and lasted at least an hour. The agents also wounded another alleged terrorist, who is now hospitalized at the Medical College Hospital.

The joint blitz of various security forces started last night around 11:30 am (local time). The police was conducting inspections in the area, looking for Islamic militants. On the second floor of building number 5 in Road 5, known as "Jahaj Bari", the agents were attacked by grenades and gunfire from the fourth floor, where Islamic radicals were residing.

Inspector General of Police, Sheikh Maruf Hasan, said the nine men, who attacked them, shouting "Allahu Akbar", "have been neutralized. The other militants that we have arrested declared to belong to the Islamic state, but we believe instead that they were members of the Islamic group Jama'atul Mujahid Bangladesh (JMB)” stated the government official.

The terrorists' apartment was searched and several books praising jihad were found, as well as weapons of various types.

This is the first exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists after the bloody attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery Cafe earlier inJuly, in Dhaka. Following the attack, the government ordered a large security operation, including the inspections that took place yesterday. In recent weeks, the authorities have launched an appeal to the nation, so the parents of young people who have disappeared from home to join the terrorists denounce the disappearance of their children. The investigation also revealed the complicity of a former professor of a private university in the capital and the direct influence of fundamentalist ideas of television preacher Zakir Naik.

• Bangladesh
• nine
• Islamic
• militants
• killed
• 26
• massacre
• of
• operation
• storm
• Dhaka
• terrorism
• fundamentalism