Two Emory University students killed in Bangladesh attack

Terrorist Attack in Gulshan Dhaka Bangladesh, 01.07.2016

The overnight standoff and hostage situation in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has ended, leaving more than a dozen dead. Video provided by Newsy Newslook

Indian social activists light candles during a protest in Kolkata on July 2 against a fatal attack on a restaurant in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.(Photo: DIBYANGSHU SARKAR, AFP/Getty Images)

Three students at a pair of U.S. universitiesEmory and theUniversity of California-Berkeley were killed in the horrificattackon a popular Bangladeshi restaurantthat left six gunmen and 20 hostages dead before commandosended the10-hour standoff.

Abinta Kabir and Faraaz Hossain, both students at Emory"sOxford College campus,were among the deadat the Holey Artisan Bakery siege in the capital of Dhaka.

India"s minister of external affairs said 19-year-old Tarushi Jain, an Indian citizen studyingat the University of California-Berkeley, was also killed.

White House spokesman Josh Earnestsaid a U.S. citizen was killed but did notrelease the victim"sname.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility forthe siege, which ended early Saturday at theeatery popular with foreignerswhen authorities moved in to halt the standoff.Two police officers were killed in the early stages of the takeover.

Kabir, from Miami, was in the area visiting family and friends when she was taken hostage and killed, the universitysaid in a statement.Hossain, who completed his second year atOxford College and was planningto attend Emory"s Goizueta Business School in the fall,was also taken hostage and killed, the school said.

Emory University is offering support to members of itsOxford, Ga., community,through counseling services. Oxford Collegeis located about 35 miles east of the school"s main campus near downtown Atlanta.

University President James Wagner saidAbinta"s mother, whom he had reached, was in "unspeakable pain" upon receiving news of the death of her daughter.

DenikaHarlalkawas studying abroad in London when she found out aboutAbinta"sdeath through a group chat, 11Alive reports.The students were both part of the student activities committee on campus.Harlalka, who is a year older thanAbinta, called her the "sweetest and most helpful person ever."

"In such a short span of time, we had become so close and had so many inside jokes,"Harlalkatold11Alive. "This is just so so terrible. I still can"t digest that this has happened.I"ve been crying since the second I found out."

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/07/02/two-emory-university-students-killed-bangladesh-attack/86633614/