DHAKA, (Reuters) – Machete-wielding assailants hacked to death a blogger in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, in the latest of a series of attacks on writers who support freethinking values in the Muslim-majority nation.
The attack comes amidst a crackdown on hardline Islamist groups, which have increased activities in recent years in the South Asian nation.
Avijit Roy, a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin, and his wife and fellow blogger, Rafida Ahmed, were attacked on Thursday while returning from a book fair. Ahmed was seriously injured.
Police retrieved two machetes from the site, but have not yet identified any suspects.
