Headlines
Police suspects extremists behind Avijit Roy's killing
Dhaka, March 9
Police said on Sunday they
suspect extremists were behind the killing of Avijit Roy and were
planning to arrest 10 more people who had threatened the writer-blogger
on social media.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Joint Commissioner
Monirul Islam on Sunday said the FBI, too, thought it was the work of
religious fanatics, bdnews24.com reported.
US citizen Roy, an
Atlanta-based bioengineer by profession, and his blogger wife Rafida
Ahmed Banna were attacked on the Dhaka University campus on February 26.
The FBI is assisting Bangladesh investigators.
Roy
had received threats for his secular writings. Banna, who lost a thumb
and was seriously wounded in the attack, has flown back to US for
treatment. Islam said they had a list of people who had threatened or
encouraged the killing on social media.
"We've a list of 10 people and we are planning to arrest them," he said.
Shafiur Rahman Farabi, who is known to preach extremism on social media, was arrested four days after the killing.
Police raided his Sylhet home on Sunday and confiscated a computer and some documents.
Islam said the FBI would not directly participate in the operation but provide technical assistance.
Four US investigators visited the murder scene on Friday.
"They haven't recommended arresting anyone yet," Islam said, adding police would arrest suspects based on FBI's suggestion.
"They said the killing appears to have been carried out by extremist groups," the police official added.