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U.S. denounces killing of Bangladeshi-American writer

Xinhua, February 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States on Friday slammed the killing of a Bangladeshi-American writer, offering help in the investigation.

"The United States condemns in the strongest terms the brutal murder of Avijit Roy, which was horrific in its brutality and cowardice," State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki told reporters at a daily news briefing.

"Avijit was a journalist, a humanist, a husband, and a friend, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends," she said adding the U.S. is ready to assist in the investigation, if asked.

Roy, 42, was hacked to death by two attackers wielding machetes in Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka Thursday evening, when he was leaving a book fair with his wife, who was also wounded seriously in the attack, said press reports.

Roy was an engineer by profession, but had reportedly received death threats from Islamists for his articles advocating secularism.

Psaki said the motive to kill Roy was not known yet. Endite