Bag with fake IED hurled at US embassy security guard

Two youths yesterday threw a "suspicious black bag" at a security guard of the US embassy in the capital, 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-type object.

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

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

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

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

"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 was locked into an altercation over why they will not be allowed to stand there. They then threw the bag at the security guard and ran away," he said.