The incident that began as a hostage-taking on an upscale restaurant left 28 dead, including six attackers and 20 of the hostages. The government has denied the Islamic State group’s claim of responsibility for the attack.

Police have released photographs of the bodies of five attackers, along with their first names: Akash, Badhon, Bikash, Don and Ripon. The men belonged to the banned domestic group Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, or JMB, and their families hadn’t heard from them in months, according to police. Asked whether they might also have had Islamic State ties, Police Inspector General A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque said authorities were investigating that possibility.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has blamed her political opponents of trying to create chaos by backing domestic militants.
“Anyone who believes in religion cannot do such an act,” Hasina said Saturday. “They do not have any religion, their only religion is terrorism.” (Indian Express)