Jihadist extremists hacked 20 people to death during a hostage takeover in a cafe in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka; those who could recite from the Quran were spared. Commandos later stormed in and ended the standoff.

Witnesses said seven Islamist radicals stormed the Holey Artisan bakery and cafe last night armed with assault weapons, pistols and 'sharp objects' before taking more than 30 people hostage.

One member of staff from the restaurant who managed to escape, Sumon Reza, told Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star: 'They blasted several crude bombs, causing wide-scale panic among everyone. I managed to flee during this confusion.'  He added: 'They came armed with pistols, swords and bombs. They shouted Allahu Akbar [God is great] before blasting the bombs.'

Bangladeshi resident Hasnat Karim was at the cafe with his family.  He was too traumatized to say more than a few words about his ordeal, saying only that the hostage-takers 'did not misbehave with us'.  But he detailed to his father Rezaul how the gunmen had split the diners into two groups.  Rezaul said: '(The foreigners) were taken to the upper floor and the Bangladeshis were kept around a table.'  He added: 'The gunmen asked everyone inside to recite from the Quran. Those who recited were spared and not hit. The gunmen even gave them meals last night.'  He said those that could not recite from the Quran were tortured.

They killed nine Italians, seven Japanese, an Indian, an American and two local men.

Bangladeshi officials have said 20 died with a number of others in a critical condition in hospital.  Hospital staff dealing with casualties said of the 26 people they are currently treating, ten are in a critical condition with six on life support.  Victims suffered broken bones and gunshot wounds.

Elite Bangladeshi commandos stormed the building after siege of more than 12 hours, freeing some 13 hostages, in addition to another eight who managed to flee during the siege. Six of the terrorists were shot dead and one was arrested at the scene.

Two police officers were killed, including a local police station chief, Mohammed Salahuddin, who was earlier injured in the shoot-out.  Another 25 officers and one civilian are being treated for injuries from gunshots and shrapnel.

The ISIS media wing has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was launched on the final Friday of Ramadan, as millions of Muslims prepare to celebrate the Eid holiday. ISIS claimed 24 people had been killed and a further 40 were wounded in the attack. Images of the carnage were distributed on social media channels with links to the jihad terror organization.

ISIS also posted pictures of five of the attackers online along with a statement: 'Let the people of the crusader countries know that there is no safety for them as long as their aircraft are killing Muslims.'  The statement is believed to be aimed at British and American air strikes in Syria and Iraq, although neither Italy nor Japan are involved in that campaign.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed declared two days of mourning for the victims to take place on Sunday and Monday.  She also thanked all those who had expressed their solidarity with Bangladesh, and vowed that terrorism would be exterminated at all costs.  In a statement on television she said: 'It was an extremely heinous act. What kind of Muslims are these people? They don't have any religion.'  Sheikh Hasina added: 'Islam is a religion of peace. Stop killing in the name of the religion. Please stop tarnishing our noble religion...I implore you to come back to the rightful path and uphold the pride of Islam.'

Army Brigadier General Naim Asraf Chowdhury said: 'Most of (the hostages) were killed mercilessly by sharp weapons last night.'

Speaking after the raid, Lieutenant Colonel Tuhin Mohammed Masud, commander of the Rapid Action Battalion said: 'We have gunned down at least six terrorists and the main building is cleared but the operation is still going on.'

Source: dailymail.co.uk