Police: Suspected Dhaka cafe attack 'mastermind' Tamim Chowdhury killed in raid

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Police in Bangladesh said Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, one of the suspected "masterminds" of a July terrorist attack on a cafe in Dhaka, was killed during a raid on Saturday.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, authorities confirmed the deaths of Chowdhury and two other suspected militants after police cordoned off the building in the capital city of Dhaka and exchanged gunfire.

"They did not surrender. They threw four to five grenades at police and fired from AK 22 rifles," Bangladesh police chief Shahidul Hoque told Sky News.

He said security officials had received a tip that Chowdhury was hiding in the building in Narayanganj, where three bodies were seen after the exchange.

"Three extremists were killed. Among them, one of the dead persons looked exactly like the photo of Tamim Chowdhury that we have," Hoque said.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on the cafe in Bangladesh that left 20 hostages of varying nationality and two policemen dead.

Bangladesh police blame militant group Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh for the attack and the deaths of more than 80 people over the last three years and have carried out a series of raids on suspected militant hideouts killing at least 24 suspected extremists.

According to CNN, Bangladeshi offered a cash reward for information on Chowdhury, Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh's leader, and a suspected second planner.

"Tamim Chowdhury's chapter is closed here," Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said.