Bangladesh Arrests Suspect in Fatal Machete Attack on U.S. Blogger

Police in Bangladesh said Saturday they have arrested a militant wanted in connection with the 2015 killing of a prominent U.S. blogger. The man has been identified as Arafat Rahman, a 24-year-old member of the al Qaeda-inspired militant group Ansar Ullah Bangla Team, deputy police commissioner Masudur Rahman said. Rahman is suspected of involvement in the murder of Avijit Roy, who was hacked to death by attackers wielding machetes while returning to his Dhaka home in February 2015. His widow, Rafida Ahmed, lost her thumb in the attack and suffered other serious injuries. Police said the suspect also “confessed his involvement in the killing of four other secular activists,” according to Reuters. Bangladesh has witnessed a spate of brutal attacks on bloggers, foreigners, and religious minorities in recent years. Roy was thought to have been targeted for his outspoken criticism of Islamic fundamentalism.