Bangladesh sentences 7 militants to death over cafe terror attack

DHAKA - A Bangladeshi court on Wednesday sentenced seven militants to death over a case of terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in capital Dhaka's diplomatic area Gulshan in 2016.

In a packed courtroom, Judge Mojibur Rahman of the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal handed down the verdict in presence of all the eight accused.

The court, however, acquitted one accused in the case as allegations brought against him was not proved.

Five gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic area Gulshan on July 1, 2016 and took several dozen hostages.

More than 20 people were killed in the terror attack including nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, an Indian and a Bangladeshi-born U.S. citizen.

The gunmen also killed two Bangladeshi police officers in the early hours of the attack.

About 12 hours after the attack, the Bangladesh army stormed the restaurant, killing the five attackers.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for the attack.

But Bangladeshi authorities rejected the claim, saying members of a banned local militant outfit plotted the attack.