Cal student killed in Bangladesh attacks

A 19-year-old student at the University of California at Berkeley was among 20 people reportedly killed in an attack at a bakery Friday in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka first reported the incident as a shooting and hostage situation happening at Holey Bakery in the city’s Gulshan 2 neighborhood around 10:55 p.m., Bangladesh Standard Time.

Indian national Tarishi Jain was among the hostages who were killed during an hours-long standoff with Bangladesh authorities, Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter.

Jain had gone to high school in Dhaka and began studying at UC Berkeley in 2014, according to UC Chancellor Nicholas Dirks.

Jain was inside the bakery when a group of gunmen reportedly stormed the business, taking patrons hostage. After about 10 hours, Bangladeshi authorities were able to free the surviving hostages and reportedly killed six of the gunmen.

“We have been in contact with her family to provide assistance in any way that we can and are working closely with other students there to assist them in staying safe and determining whether they leave the area,” Dirks said in a statement. “Our counseling services staff and CARE services are available to support our faculty, students and staff on campus as we mourn this tragic loss.” The school is planning a vigil and memorial for Jain, although a location and date has not been announced, according to Dirks.

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