ICC Note:

Reports have leaked that anti-terrorism forces in Bangladesh have foiled a terror attack targeting a Catholic church in Dhaka, the country’s capital. According to police, a number of arrests have been made of members of the extremist group “New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh” who planned to plant a suicide bomber in the Holy Spirit Church. Attacks on Christians and other religious minorities increased over 2016. Does this mean that 2017 will be another bad year for Christians in Bangladesh? 

12/29/2016 Bangladesh (Asia News) – The anti-terrorism forces of Bangladesh have foiled an attack on a Catholic church in the capital, planned for Christmas Day. This was revealed by a police officer, who reports the arrest of members of the extremist group “New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh” (Neo-JMB) who planned to plant suicide bombers in the Holy Spirit Church, in the Banani neighborhood.

In view of Christmas, the government increased controls and security measures around 62 churches in Dhaka. The arrest of the militants took place on December 24 in a house in Ashkona, but details of the operation were leaked yesterday. The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) group arrested the new leader of the terrorist group, Moinul Islam alias Abu Musa, along with other accomplices.

CTTC chief Monirul Islam, told the Dhaka Tribune that the apartment was used as a refuge by the bombers. Inside documents and papers were found that delineate the attack mode, which would have included a woman.

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