20 hostages killed in 'Isil' attack on Dhaka restaurant popular with foreigners

                                 

Twenty foreign hostages were hacked to death with sharp weapons by Islamist terrorists during a dramatic siege at an upmarket Dhaka restaurant that ended in a bloodbath on Saturday morning.

The majority of the victims were from Italy and Japan. No Britons have yet been confirmed among the casualties. 

Italy's PM Matteo Renzi confirmed that Italians were among the dead.

Italian news agency Ansa said up to 10 Italians may be unaccounted for. The Italian press said many of those dining at the cafe worked in the garment industry.

Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Hagiuda said seven Japanese nationals were in the cafe but it was not clear if they were among the casualties.

At a press conference held after midday local time at the Bangladesh army headquarters, Brig-Gen Nayeen Ashtaq Chowdhury confirmed that 20 people were found killed using locally made sharp weapons, after police and military broke the siege with Operation Thunderbolt, which lasted from 7.40am to 8.30am.

Two Sri Lankans and one Japanese hostage were rescued, along with around a dozen Bangladeshis.

Two separate sources - a rescue worker and a paramilitary officer - told the Telegraph the victims had severe wounds to their necks and throats.

Six of the attackers were shot dead during the raid on the Holey Artisan Bakery, an expatriates' favourite.

Two or three gunmen are believed to have been arrested. Police found pistols, rifles, bombs and knives at the scene.

The siege in Gulshan, Bangladesh's most affluent district, started more than twelve hours earlier, when eight or nine gunmen stormed the restaurant and opened fire, killing two policemen.