TIMELINE

Friday Night attack

8:45pm
7-8 gunmen, aged between 20 and 28, storm Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan diplomatic zone

9: 10pm
They opened fire and hold 30 to 32 people, mostly foreigners, hostage

9:50pm
Police and Rab cordon off the area

10:30pm
Two police officials, injured in the intermittent firing by the gunmen from inside the cafe, die

11:00pm
Attackers are said to have turned off lights at the restaurant

11:30pm
Rab DG Benazir Ahmed requests TV channels to stop live telecast

Early Saturday developments

1:30am
IS claims responsibility for the attack, claimed SITE Intelligence

4:00am
Police detain a youth, who was shot in the leg while trying to escape

4:20am
Italian state TV claims 7 Italians among the hostages

Early Saturday developments

5:00am
Commandoes of army, navy, air force, police, BGB, Rab and Swat prepare to begin massive operation

7:40am
Security forces begin “Operation Thunderbolt” and barge in the restaurant

7:48am
Heavy firing and explosions

8:15am
In the first phase of the operation, six, including women and children, were rescued alive

8:30am
Operation ends successfully

8:55am
Commando forces take control of the building. A search operation begins 

9:15am
The hostage standoff ends almost after 12 hours

12:45pm
ISPR briefs media about the operation. 20 people are found dead inside the restaurant. Six attackers killed, one arrested, and 13 hostages rescued