JMB carried out Dhaka café and Sholakia attacks: IGP

The attacks at Gulshan cafe and Sholakia were carried out by militants of banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque said today. 

After visiting the crime scene at Sholakia Eid prayer ground, IGP Shahidul told this to the reporters today, a correspondent from Kishoreganj reports.

When asked about the involvement of Islamic State with the attacks, the IGP said IS claimed responsibilities of every attack wherever it took place. “We can't find any link as to why they do it".

Police were looking for the five Gulshan café attackers for a long time, the IGP said adding that the law enforcers had information about them. “They were JMB members,” IGP Shahidul said.

“We primarily found evidence of JMB’s link with the Sholakia attack,” the IGP said.

READ MORE: Attack on Sholakia Eid prayers, cops among 4 killed

The injured person, who was detained in connection with Sholakia attack, admitted that they had contacted with the attackers of the Holey Artisan Bakery, the police chief added.

A case is likely to be filed later in the day in connection with the Sholakia attack that left four people dead on the Eid day (July 7), he informed.

In the Sholakia attack, one attacker was killed and another was injured, he said.

Quoting the policemen who were during the attack, IGP Shahidul said, “Five to six men took part in the attack but several other persons might assist them. We are trying to detain them”.

The law enforcers did not have any information about the Sholakia attack, he replied when asked about any intelligence information.

Police do not have any intelligence about the Sholakia attack but they were apprehending further attacks, the IGP added.

GULSHAN CAFÉ ATTACK

Gunmen killed 22 people including 17 foreigners and two policemen shortly after taking hostage a number of diners at the Spanish restaurants in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone on July 1.

Six militants were also killed during the hostage crisis incident.

A day after the killing, Islamic State claimed responsibility of the attack in the Spanish restaurant, according to US-based SITE Intelligence Group.

SHOLAKIA EID COMGREGATION ATTACK

Four people, including two policemen, a woman and a suspected assailant, died in the attack near Sholakia Eidgah where hundreds of thousands had gathered for Eid congregation on Friday morning.

The incident took place within a week of the Gulshan restaurant attack.