2nd LD: Two police officers dead as attackers storm Bangladesh restaurant, take hostages

Two senior police officers have been killed in a gunfire exchange between police and gunmen who stormed a Spanish restaurant in Bangladesh capital Dhaka's diplomatic enclave Gulshan on Friday night to take hostages.

At least 30 people including two more senior police officials were injured in the incident.

"Salahuddin Khan, officer-in-charge of Banani police station in capital Dhaka, was shot dead as the gunmen opened fire at the law enforcers after taking hostages at a Spanish restaurant," a police official told Xinhua.

The official who did not like to be named said around midnight, another senior officer identified as Robiul succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the fire exchange.

Several people including foreign nationals are believed to be held hostage after police exchanged fire with the group of criminals.

Sources said five to six unidentified miscreants entered the Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant where usually foreigners go for eating food and opened gunfire around 9:20 p.m. local time.

As huge number of policemen cordoned off the restaurant, the miscreants opened fire at the law enforcers.

Attackers also hurled bombs at policemen.

It's not immediately known whether the injured people included a foreigner.

"We're trying to end the hostage crisis peacefully," Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Chief Benzir Ahmed told journalists in his brief comment.

He could not tell immediately how many people are caught up inside the restaurant.

It's not known what the gunmen have been demanding to free the hostages.

Sources said Islamist militants may have involvement in the attack. Endite