Huge arms cache found in Bangladeshi militant hideout

A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including bombs, improvised explosives, bomb-making materials and a stash of local weapons, was recovered from a militant hideout here in Bangladesh.

"We've recovered 17 strong bombs, 30 improvised explosive devices, 100 home-made weapons and chemicals used in explosive making from the militant hideout," Bangladesh's anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) spokesman Mufti Mahmud Khan told reporters on Friday.

Security forces Wednesday afternoon found seven bodies burned beyond recognition inside the militant hideout that was devastated by a fire triggered by several heavy explosions Tuesday night, Xinhua news agency reported.

Officials say the militants were most likely killed in a series of suicide explosions that rocked the militant hideout Tuesday night.

RAB early on Tuesday cordoned off the hideout in Dhaka, where militants were suspected of being holed up.

Suspected militant Abdullah, whose remains along with six others were found inside the hideout, reportedly used the top floor of the building as an "bomb-making factory".

"We're now are looking for more close aids of the inhabiting militants of the hideout."

--IANS

vgu/