U.S. officials are in contact with authorities in Bangladesh, according to a White House statement. [What the scene outside of a hostage situation in Bangladesh looked like]Most of the slain hostages are believed to be foreigners. Late Friday, 40 or so customers were in the restaurant, along with a large contingent of staff, including two foreign chefs. The extent of the Islamic State’s operational presence in majority-Muslim Bangladesh remains unclear, however. According to local press reports, the gunmen divided people by nationality and asked people to recite verses of the Koran, sparing those who could.

Source: Washington Post July 02, 2016 23:32 UTC