Bodies of Dhaka attack victims handed over to families, embassies

Bodies of the victims from the weekend attack at a restaurant in the Bangladeshi capital have been handed over to their relatives and embassies of their respective countries on Monday.

The bodies of the victims, including nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, an Indian and a Bangladeshi-born U.S. citizen, were handed over during a state ceremony here in Dhaka.

On the second day of the two-day national mourning over the country's worst hostage crisis, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed floral wreath at the caskets of the victims at around 10:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) during the ceremony held at an Army stadium.

The caskets bored the flags of India, Italy, Bangladesh, Japan and the United States -- commemorating the nationalities of the victims.

Envoys of India, Italy, the United States and Japan also paid their respects to the victims.

Diplomats from many other countries also placed floral wreaths at the caskets of the victims of Friday's attack.

Hundreds of relatives and friends of the victims and people from all walks of life also poured in to pay their last tribute at scene.

Twenty hostages, mostly foreign nationals, were hacked to death when seven gunmen stormed in with guns and swords in the Gulshan's Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1.

The gunmen also murdered two Bangladeshi police officers in the early hour of the attack.

Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the Islamic State militant group. Six of the gunmen were killed while one was captured and detained alive. Endit