jakko
27-02-2015, 15:53
Police say unidentified attackers have hacked a prominent US blogger to death in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka.
Police on Friday said that Avijit Roy, a Bangladesh-born US citizen, known for this writing against religious fundamentalism, and wife Rafida Ahmed, were attacked after a visit to a book fair at Dhaka University.
Ahmed, also a blogger, sustained severe injuries in Thursday's attack.
Sirajul Islam, a local police chief, told The Associated Press news agency the assailants used cleavers to attack the couple.
"Several attackers took part in the attack and at least two assailants hit them directly,'' Islam said, adding that two blood-stained cleavers were found after the attack.
Al Jazeera's Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from Dhaka, said that the family of the victims are blaming "religious fanatics" for the attack.
Witnesses told our correspondent that police and onlookers were present during the attack, but no one came to help the victims.
Previous attacks have been blamed on religious fanatics [AFP]
Roy had founded a popular Bengali-language blog - Mukto-mona, or Free Mind - in which articles on scientific reasoning and religious extremism featured prominently.
It was not known who was behind the attack, but Roy's family and friends say he was a prominent voice against religious fanatics and has faced threats in the past.
Anujit Roy, his younger brother, says Roy had returned to the country earlier this month and was planning to return there next month.
Similar attacks have previously taken place in Bangladesh.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/blogger-hacked-death-bangladesh-capital-150227045121388.html
Police on Friday said that Avijit Roy, a Bangladesh-born US citizen, known for this writing against religious fundamentalism, and wife Rafida Ahmed, were attacked after a visit to a book fair at Dhaka University.
Ahmed, also a blogger, sustained severe injuries in Thursday's attack.
Sirajul Islam, a local police chief, told The Associated Press news agency the assailants used cleavers to attack the couple.
"Several attackers took part in the attack and at least two assailants hit them directly,'' Islam said, adding that two blood-stained cleavers were found after the attack.
Al Jazeera's Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from Dhaka, said that the family of the victims are blaming "religious fanatics" for the attack.
Witnesses told our correspondent that police and onlookers were present during the attack, but no one came to help the victims.
Previous attacks have been blamed on religious fanatics [AFP]
Roy had founded a popular Bengali-language blog - Mukto-mona, or Free Mind - in which articles on scientific reasoning and religious extremism featured prominently.
It was not known who was behind the attack, but Roy's family and friends say he was a prominent voice against religious fanatics and has faced threats in the past.
Anujit Roy, his younger brother, says Roy had returned to the country earlier this month and was planning to return there next month.
Similar attacks have previously taken place in Bangladesh.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/blogger-hacked-death-bangladesh-capital-150227045121388.html