Dhaka cocktail attack on cops: ISIS claims responsibility

Rita Katz, SITE Intelligence Group Director, tweeted: "BREAKING: #ISIS claims 1st attack in #Bangladesh since Mar. 2017, detonating #IED on police in the capital #Dhaka - wounding 3 (in line w media #).

Comes just days after a week of deadly attacks in #SriLanka indicating growing threat of IS in #SouthAsia."

The crude bomb went off near Gulistan Cinema Hall around 7:35pm during load-shedding, Shiblee Noman, additional deputy commissioner (Motijheel division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star.

The injured people were identified by the local media as traffic constables Nazrul, 45, and Liton, 42, and community policeman Ashik, 28.

Injured Ashik told the newspaper the crude bomb exploded under a tree, nearly 10 minutes after the power cut.  

He said he and one of the victims of the blast were resting near the tree.

SM Bazlur Rashid, assistant commissioner of traffic,  told The Daily Star either the crude bomb was planted on the spot or it was thrown from a distance.

“We will examine footage captured by CCTV camera installed nearby,” he said.  

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Shibli Noman, told bdnews24: "I know about the matter. It is being investigated whether the attack was carried out by the IS or not. Investigation is being carried out by keeping everything under consideration.'

Nearly 20 people were killed in a terror attack in Bangladesh capital Dhaka in 2016.

Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan was the target of the attack that time.