Dhaka shooting: Hostage situation as gunmen battle police

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7. US Cannot Confirm IS Claim of Responsibility in Dhaka Attack

Source: Associated Press

US Cannot Confirm IS Claim of Responsibility in Dhaka Attack

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DHAKA, Bangladesh — Jul 1, 2016, 5:40 PM ET

The Latest on the attack on a restaurant popular with foreigners in a diplomatic zone in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka (all times local):

3:00 a.m.

The U.S. State Department says it has seen the claims of responsibility by the Islamic State group for the hostage-taking in Dhaka but cannot yet confirm it.

A White House official said President Barack Obama was briefed on the attack by his chief counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco. The president asked to be kept informed as the situation develops, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the president's meetings.

State Department spokesman John Kirby says the U.S. is in contact with the Bangladesh government and has offered its assistance to bring those responsible to justice.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/police-officers-killed-bangladesh-attack-40289987