Obama briefed on ISIS attack in Bangladesh

Washington, Jul 2: US President Barack Obama was today briefed by counter-terrorism officials on an ISIS terror attack at an upmarket restaurant in Bangladesh where several foreigners have been taken hostage, a White House official said.

"Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco has briefed the President on the ongoing situation in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The President asked to be kept informed as the situation develop," the official said. The State Department Spokesman John Kirby said that the US embassy in Dhaka is monitoring the situation.

"I can tell you as of now that they have accounted for 100 per cent of the American citizens working under the chief of mission authority," he told reporters.

"They're also obviously in constant touch with authorities as they continue to work through this very fluid, very live situation right now," he said.

PTI