Dhaka attack: IDs of 5 militants, chef confirmed thru' DNA tests

Identities of five dead Gulshan café militants and a chef have been confirmed through DNA tests, police said today.

The DNA test reports were collected from Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday, Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP told The Daily Star this morning.

The tests were conducted at CID’s forensic lab in Dhaka, the police official said.

DNA samples were collected from the six during their postmortem. Later, the law enforcers also collected DNA samples from family members of the dead attackers, he added.

Five militants Nibras Islam, Rohan Imtiaz, Meer Saameh Mubasheer, Khairul Islam Payel and Shafiqul Islam Uzzal were killed on July 2 following an operation of the joint forces at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan.

Apart from the five, Saiful Islam, reported to be a chef of the café, was also killed in the operation.  

In the aftermath of Gulshan café siege, photos of suspected attackers surfaced in public domain, prompting social media users and journalists to search for their identities and look into family and educational backgrounds.

Most of the Holey Artisan attackers, whose photos surfaced through different sources, were from well-off families and had English medium backgrounds.

They used to frequent the popular upscale eatery in Gulshan, said their friends and investigators.

One suspect, however, was a madrasa student in Bogra.

They remained missing for several months. Family members and friends through social media posts pleaded for their return.

On July 1, armed militants stormed Holey Artisan Bakery at the diplomatic zone in Dhaka's Gulshan area and killed nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, one Indian and one Bangladesh-born US citizen. Two police officers were also killed.