A University of Toronto student was used as a human shield and was forced to hold and point an unloaded weapon by Islamic militants who stormed an upscale café in Dhaka, executing 18 foreigners in July, according to reports in the Bangladeshi media.
Tahmid Hasib Khan, a permanent resident of Canada, was detained for questioning on July 2, immediately after anti-terrorism commandos stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery and rescued him and 12 other hostages being held by the militants who attacked the café.
Twenty-two people were killed in the attack, which was claimed by ISIS.
Khan was freed on bail Sunday, several Bangladeshi media reported.
On Monday The Dhaka Tribune published an account of what had happened during the attack based on an interview with one of the hostages. The hostage’s story seems to exonerate Khan of any involvement in the attack, carried out by five gunmen.
According to the unnamed witness, Khan pleaded and reasoned with the militants who had singled out and executed all foreigners at the café – nine Italians, seven Japanese and one Indian – hoping to convince them to let the remaining hostages go.
Khan’s family and friends had argued all along that Khan was a survivor of the attack, not a perpetrator. They said he was with friends at the bakery when the gunmen attacked.
Another Canadian, who police in Bangladesh accused of masterminding the attack, was killed when officers raided a two story house near the capital Dhaka in August.
Police alleged Tamim Chowdhury was the driving force behind both the cafe attack and another attack outside Dhaka later in July.
It’s believed Chowdhury once lived in Windsor, Ontario.
With files from The Associated Press
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