Hours after some media outlets published several photos of Hasnat Karim and Tahmid Hasib with a Gulshan café attacker, police yesterday said they were scrutinising the photos and also what roles the two played during the bloody siege.

“They [Hasnat and Tahmid] are being interrogated on police remand. We are scrutinising how their body language was in what circumstances and how the arms ended up in their [sic] hands in what situation,” said Monirul Islam, chief of counter terrorism unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, which is investigating the case. 

In the photographs “collected” by some news outlets from unknown sources, it can be seen that the two are standing with one armed attacker, apparently Rohan Imtiaz, on the rooftop of the Holey Artisan Bakery.

Tahmid is seen holding a pistol-like firearm. As they stand, their body language seems normal.  

Rohan was later killed by army commandos with four other attackers and an employee of the café.

Replying to a query about the authenticity of the photos, Monirul said, “Many things are possible in the age of technology.”

Referring to the reports and photos run in some papers, he urged the media to avoid publishing such “so-called investigative reports” without checking back with investigators or officials concerned. 

Doing so might put the investigators under mental pressure, because they are still interrogating Hasnat, 44, and Tahmid, 22, as suspects, he said.

“Investigation can be hampered in most cases due to such so-called investigative reports as they can create misunderstandings,” he told reporters at the DMP media centre.

He added they already got many photos of the attack, which they were verifying. He requested all to provide them with any other photographs, if any.

Asked if the two were involved in the attack or were victims of circumstances, Monirul said police could only say that after interrogation.

If the investigation officer finds conclusive evidence of their links with the attack, they might be shown arrested in the case, he said.

As of now, they are not named as accused in the case. Police arrested them on suspicion under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

They were placed on eight days' remand on Thursday, about a month after they remained missing.

Hasnat, who is also a British citizen, and Tahmid, who studies in a Canadian university, were initially taken in by detectives for interrogation, but police later said they released them after quizzing. Their families said they never returned home, nor they could be contacted by any means.

Monirul said police were yet to arrest anyone in connection with the attack that left 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, dead on July 1.

Police, however, interrogated many people, including some police members who responded first on that day.