Police have arrested 17 individuals in connection with attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and two cultural organisations in the capital.

A total of 31 suspects have also been identified in connection with the incidents.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Md Nazrul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing on Monday.

He said that a case has been filed over the attack at the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar, which was targeted in a terrorist attack late Thursday night.

“Prothom Alo has filed a case. The Daily Star has not yet filed one, but the process is under way as they are assessing the extent of their losses. Once that is completed, they will also file a case,” Nazrul Islam said.

According to police, Prothom Alo’s case names between 400 and 500 unidentified individuals as accused.

Nazrul Islam said a total of 17 people have so far been arrested in connection with the attacks. Of them, 13 were arrested by local police stations, three by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, and one by the Detective Branch (DB).

He added that arrest operations are continuing.

Providing further details, the additional commissioner said one of the arrested suspects, identified as Naim, 26, was found in possession of Tk 50,000 in cash looted from the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices.

“Using the looted money, he bought a mobile phone and a refrigerator, both of which we have recovered,” he said.