Unidentified attackers trade gunfire with police in Dhaka

Unidentified attackers tonight traded gunfire with police near a restaurant in high-security Gulshan diplomatic area in the Bangladesh capital where several people, including foreigners, are believed to be trapped.

According to police, about five armed men entered Holey Artisan Bakery, a restaurant popular with foreigners, and opened gunfire around 9:20 PM (local time).

Several foreigners are feared to have been taken hostages inside the restaurant, police said.

A large number of policemen and Rapid Action Battalion cordoned off the restaurant.

The attackers hurled bombs and were firing intermittently, injuring some policemen and people.

A kitchen staff of the bakery, who managed to escape, said several armed men entered the restaurant around 8:45 PM and took the chief chef hostage, local media reported.
 

"They set off several crude bombs triggering panic," he added.