Twenty Hostages Dead After Overnight Siege in Bangladesh

Twenty hostages and six gunmen have died after an attack on a cafe in Bangladesh. Thirteen hostages were reportedly rescued Saturday morning, ending the overnight siege in a diplomatic zone of Dhaka.

BBC reports that the “siege began as diners were gathering to break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.” Reuters adds, “The restaurant was regarded as a tranquil place that was safe to visit in an increasingly dangerous city.”

According to Agence France-Presse, “the army said most of the slain civilians were either Italian or Japanese. Most had been slaughtered with sharpened weapons.” The Associated Press reports that a student at Emory University has been identified by the school as one of the victims.