No Russian Citizens Among Victims in Dhaka Hostage Crisis

There were no Russian citizens among the victims of the Dhaka hostage crisis, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Friday, Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for taking hostages inside a cafe located in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter. Some media outlets quoted the Bangladeshi army as saying that almost all of those killed were foreigners, mostly Italian and Japanese citizens.

"According to the Russian Embassy in Bangladesh, there are no Russian citizens among the victims… We express our sincere condolences to the victims' families and wish speedy recovery to the injured," the ministry said.

Earlier, the Bangladeshi army said that at least 20 people had been killed by the hostage takers before the Bangladeshi security forces began their operation to free hostages.

A special police operation to free the hostages has ended, with a total of 13 people rescued, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said earlier. Security forces killed six attackers and captured one, with two security officers killed during the operation, according to reports.