2017 South Surma Upazila bombings
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2017 South Surma Upazila bombings
| partof = Terrorism in Bangladesh
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| location = South Surma Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| target = Civilians and police officers
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| date = 25 March 2017
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| fatalities =11 (including 4 suicide bombers){{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/country/sporadic-firing-heard-sylhet-raid-rolls-day-4-1382035|title=4 militants dead at Sylhet den: Army |publisher=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-03-27}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.daily-sun.com/post/216140/Lt-Col-Abul-Kalam-Azads-namazejanaza-held-|title=Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad's namaz-e-janaza held|last=Sun|first=The Daily|work=Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad's namaz-e-janaza held {{!}} daily-sun.com|access-date=2017-03-31|language=en}}
| injuries = 40+
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| perpetrators = {{flag|ISIL}}
| assailants = 4 suicide bombers
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| weapons = Explosive belts
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The 2017 South Surma Upazila bombings was a combined police and army raid of a suspected militant hideout in South Surma Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh on 25{{nbsp}}March 2017. During the raid, the militants targeted the Bangladesh Armed Forces who were surrounding the militant occupied compound in Sylhet. There were two suicide bombings which killed four civilians and two police officers and wounded more than 40, some critically. An army lieutenant colonel later died from his injuries. Bombs exploded and gunfire was reported when the military launched Operation Twilight to clear the militant hideout.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39394487|title=Sylhet blasts kill four amid Bangladesh militant raid|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2017-03-25}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/news-39395797|title= সিলেটে বোমা 'হামলার দায়' স্বীকার করলো আইএস|date=26 March 2017|publisher=BBC Bangla|via=www.bbc.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/crime/2017/03/24/live-police-cordon-off-militant-hideout-sylhet/|title=Sylhet raid Day 3: Eight dead, 40+ injured, Operation Twilight continues – Dhaka Tribune|date=24 March 2017|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-attack-idUSKBN16W0MU|title=Bangladesh bomb blasts kill six, scores injured|date=26 March 2017|publisher=|via=Reuters}} ISIL claimed responsibility however, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal denied the claims of ISIL and blamed the local Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh for the attacks.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/03/26/home-minister-sylhet-blasts-not-linked/|title=Home minister: Sylhet blasts not linked to IS {{!}} Dhaka Tribune|date=2017-03-26|work=Dhaka Tribune|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en-US}} Finally the Bangladesh Army neutralised four militants at the suspected hideout.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/crime/2017/03/24/live-police-cordon-off-militant-hideout-sylhet/|title=Live: Four militants killed as Sylhet raid nears end |publisher=Dhaka Tribune|access-date=2017-03-27}}
Background
On Thursday, 23 March 2017, the Bangladesh Police surrounded a suspected militant hideout in South Surma Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh. The hideout was located in a housing complex which consisted of two apartment buildings. The police unit was reinforced with personnel from Rapid Action Battalion on the Friday.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/26/world/asia/bangladeshi-assault-kills-2-militants-but-fails-to-end-standoff.html|title=Bangladeshi Assault Kills 2 Militants but Fails to End Standoff|last=Manik|first=Julfikar Ali|date=2017-03-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-03-26|last2=Anand|first2=Geeta|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/03/26/it-seems-the-army-has-settled-for-a-long-haul-in-sylhet-to-neutralise-the-militants|title=It seems the army has settled for a long haul in Sylhet to neutralise the militants|work=bdnews24.com|access-date=2017-03-26}} On Saturday, the 1st Para Commando Battalion took charge of operations.
Operation Twilight
Operation Twilight was launched by the 1st Para Commando Battalion of the Bangladesh Army under the command of Major General Anwarul Momen, GOC 17th Infantry Division in Jalalabad Cantonment. First the security forces established a three kilometre perimeter around the militant hideout. Then the operation was launched on Saturday morning at 8{{nbsp}}am.{{Cite news|url=http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/143389/Blasts-during-Sylhet-hideout-operation-kill-4|title=Blasts during Sylhet hideout operation kill 6|work=Prothom Alo|access-date=2017-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812021711/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/143389/Blasts-during-Sylhet-hideout-operation-kill-4|archive-date=12 August 2017|url-status=dead}} Two militants were killed in the initial attack, one of whom detonated a suicide vest. The commandos rescued 78 civilians who had been trapped in the building since Thursday.{{Cite news|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/03/26/gunfire-blasts-heard-as-sylhet-militant-hideout-siege-enters-third-day|title=Gunfire, blasts heard as Sylhet militant hideout siege enters third day|work=bdnews24.com|access-date=2017-03-27}} The militants had planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) all over the building which slowed down the operation.{{Cite news|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/03/26/two-killed-more-well-trained-militants-inside-says-army-in-sylhet-anti-terror-operation|title=Two killed, more ‘well-trained’ militants inside, says army in Sylhet|work=bdnews24.com|access-date=2017-03-27}} The main gate of the building was blocked by a refrigerator with an IED booby trap attached to it.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/country/joint-operation-begins-sylhet-militant-den-1381165|title=3 killed, 31 hurt in blasts outside Sylhet ‘militant den’|date=2017-03-25|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en}} Army spokesman, Brigadier General Fakhrul Ahsan, initially reported that the operation would take more time because of the presence of scattered IEDs in strategic points inside the building. “We used a rocket launcher to punch a hole through the wall. We used explosives but those didn’t work out. Then we used a Thai shell and successfully neutralised two militants,” Brigadier General Fakhrul said.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/country/sporadic-gunshots-mark-day-3-sylhet-militant-den-raid-1381606|title=2 militants killed, Sylhet raid to linger: Army|date=2017-03-26|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en}} The commandos arrived in armoured personnel carriers from their military base for the operation.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/bangladesh-commandos-storm-militants-hideout-in-sylhet-rescue-78-civilians/story-scjqEjp63auHmjsHsTWEpK.html|title=Bangladesh commandos storm militants hideout in Sylhet, rescue 78 civilians|date=2017-03-25|work=hindustantimes.com/|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en}} The building had 30 apartments and 150 rooms, and the militants constantly changed their location.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/3-killed-sylhet-blasts-1381498|title=Blasts kill 5 amid raid|date=2017-03-26|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en}} The operation was launched on Saturday morning at 8{{nbsp}}am. The Commando unit was assisted by SWAT forces and Bangladesh police.{{Cite news|url=http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/143307/Jt-forces-anti-militant-operation-launched|title=Jt forces' anti-militant 'operation' launched|work=Prothom Alo|access-date=2017-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811222317/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/143307/Jt-forces-anti-militant-operation-launched|archive-date=11 August 2017|url-status=dead}} Finally four militants were found dead at the hideout.
Bombing
On 26 March, while Operation Twilight was in progress, militants bombed a crowd of about 500–600 onlookers gathered near the cordon perimeter,{{Cite news|url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/03/26/islamic-states-amaq-reports-bomb-blast-sylhet/|title=Islamic State's Amaq reports bomb blast in Sylhet {{!}} Dhaka Tribune|date=2017-03-26|work=Dhaka Tribune|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en-US}} which was about 400 metres from the militant hideout.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bangladesh-launches-operation-twilight-to-capture-terrorists-in-sylhet-1673573|title=6 Killed, 50 Injured In Twin Blasts In Bangladesh's Sylhet. Anti-Terror Operation Under Way|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2017-03-26}} Two bombs were used in the attack. The first was thrown by two individuals from a motorcycle at 6.45{{nbsp}}pm. The second was left in a bag containing vegetables and exploded at 7.55, after police and RAB personnel moved into the area following the first explosion. Six people, including two police officers, were killed in the explosions and 44 injured.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39394487|title=Sylhet blasts kill four amid Bangladesh militant raid|date=2017-03-26|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-03-26|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/two-terrorists-killed-as-sylhet-operation-continues-for-third-day-13812|title=Two terrorists killed as Sylhet operation continues for third day|date=2017-03-26|work=WION|access-date=2017-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326125520/http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/two-terrorists-killed-as-sylhet-operation-continues-for-third-day-13812|archive-date=26 March 2017|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/143419/Sylhet-raid-What-we-know-so-far|title=Sylhet raid: What we know so far|work=Prothom Alo|access-date=2017-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326101320/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/143419/Sylhet-raid-What-we-know-so-far|archive-date=26 March 2017|url-status=dead}} Lieutenant Colonel Abul Kalam Azad, director of intelligence of RAB, was seriously injured in the second explosion. He was taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College for primary care. Then he was flown to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. He was later flown to Singapore for better treatment, but died from his injuries.{{Cite news |date=2017-03-27 |title=Explosives in Sylhet attack were time-bombs {{!}} Dhaka Tribune |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/03/27/explosives-sylhet-attack-time-bombs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326234500/http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/03/27/explosives-sylhet-attack-time-bombs/ |archive-date=2017-03-26 |access-date=2017-03-27 |work=Dhaka Tribune |language=en-US}} Police Inspector Monirul Islam of the bomb disposal squad and Inspector Abu Kawser were killed outright by the second explosion.{{Cite news |date=2017-03-27 |title=2 militants killed, more remain in Sylhet den {{!}} Dhaka Tribune |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/crime/2017/03/27/2-militants-killed-remain-sylhet-den/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327010044/http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/crime/2017/03/27/2-militants-killed-remain-sylhet-den/ |archive-date=2017-03-27 |access-date=2017-03-27 |work=Dhaka Tribune |language=en-US}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:South Surma Upazila bombings}}
Category:March 2017 crimes in Asia
Category:ISIL terrorist incidents in Bangladesh
Category:Suicide bombings in Bangladesh
Category:Suicide bombings in 2017
Category:Terrorist incidents in Bangladesh in 2017
Category:2017 murders in Bangladesh
Category:21st-century mass murder in Bangladesh
Category:Dakshin Surma Upazila
Category:Building bombings in Bangladesh
Category:2017 building bombings