‘Suspicious black bag’ with fake IED type object recovered from US Embassy premises

Two youths today threw a "suspicious black bag" aiming at a security guard of the US Embassy in Dhaka, following an altercation.

The incident took place around 3:30pm.

Police later called the bomb disposal unit of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit to check the contents of the bag.

The bomb disposal unit members found a match box, a cup wrapped with black tape, some wire and a knife inside the bag.

Rahmatullah Chowdhury, chief of the bomb disposal unit, told The Daily Star that it was a fake improvised explosive device (IED) type object.

"We are suspecting that the youths wanted to draw international attention by staging the drama," a police high official said requesting anonymity.

The official, however, did not disclose anything about the youths' appearances or any connection with any extremist group.

"Both youths are 24-25 year old. They were wearing T-shirts and one of them had a cap on. One of the youths had a beard," Sudip Kumar Chakrabarty, deputy commissioner of police (Gulshan division), told The Daily Star.

Regarding the incident, DC Sudip Kumar said two vehicles were entering into the annex building through the entrance on the opposite side of the embassy at around 3:30pm today.

"The on-duty security guard saw two youths standing near the gate and wanted to know the reason. One of them was holding a black bag. One of the youths then locked into an altercation over why they will not be allowed to stand there, and threw the bag at the security guard and ran away," said the deputy commissioner.