BANGLADESH: American blogger hacked to death with machetes by Muslims for his anti-Islam writings

American blogger Dr. Avijit Roy was hacked to death with machetes and meat cleavers by a Muslim militant group while walking down the street in Bangladesh. The horrific attack occurred while the Atlanta, Georgia man, known for his anti-Muslim extremist writings, was attending a book fair with his wife Rafida Ahmed.

This image, circulated by extremists on social media, shows Dr Aijivit Roy dead on the floor in Dhaka, Bangladesh (right) on Thursday night. Left, his wounded wife, Rafida Ahmed, stands over his body

UK Daily Mail  Dr. Avijit Roy was reportedly a prominent American blogger who routinely spoke out against Islamic extremism. Rafida Ahmed was also seriously injured in the meat cleaver and machete attack and was taken to a Bangladesh hospital with critical injuries. Roy, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was of a Hindu descent. Hindus are a religious minority in Bangladesh and have reportedly faced cultural obstacles and persecution in the country throughout history.

Police said at least two men, who are believed to have links to Dhaka University, attacked Roy around 8.45pm and landed three strong, deliberate blows to the right side of his head. They turned on his wife, Rafida Ahmed, when she tried to save him, then fled into the crowd, dumping their weapons as they ran. Police have expressed shock that extremists struck at a university book fair, which was heavily guarded.

Survivor: Wife Rafida Ahmed is pictured above being stretchered to hospital after the attack

Witnesses have even said officers and bystanders were there during the murder – but did nothing. Several onlookers told Al-Jazeera nobody intervened in the brazen attack, while even police chiefs had said they were baffled that a man could be murdered so close to the heavily-guarded area.

Roy’s body was found in a pool of blood on Thursday night after the brutal attack. Ahmed, 45, is also a blogger. She is reportedly now in hospital with a deep cut to her head. Roy, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen and also a bio-engineer, had been receiving death threats online for years.

Dr. Avijit Roy, slain by Muslim terrorists

One Muslim, Farabi Shafiur Rahman, had reportedly posted threats on Facebook last year that Roy would be killed as soon as he returned to the country.

Roy and his wife were visiting the city of Dhaka for a book fair when they were set upon opposite the Dhaka University Central Mosque. Jubilant extremists writing on social media were quick to praise the attackers. The account for Ansar Bangla 7 made a post which linked the killing to Roy’s nationality – and American airstrikes on ISIS.