Bangladesh probes attack on U.S. envoy

Authorities in Bangladesh said Monday that they are investigating a weekend attack on a car carrying U.S. Ambassador Marcia Bernicat. The U.S. Embassy said the incident was not connected to ongoing protests in the country over road safety.

Armed men on motorcycles targeted Bernicat’s car in the residential Mohammadpur area of Dhaka on Saturday after she was returning from a dinner party at the home of a prominent social activist, the embassy confirmed. The ambassador escaped unharmed.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, the attackers chased and threw small bricks at the embassy motorcade.

“There were no injuries to the Ambassador, her drivers, or security staff; however, two security vehicles sustained some damage,” according to an embassy statement.

An embassy spokesman emphasized that the attack was unrelated to ongoing student-led protests in Dhaka over road safety but did not give further information about a possible motive.

Over the past few days, students aggrieved at the abysmal state of traffic management in Dhaka have blocked roads, inspected driver’s licenses at checkpoints and stopped drivers to inform them of road rules. But over the weekend, the protests turned violent — vehicles were set ablaze and police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at crowds of chanting students in some parts of the city.

More than 40 people were injured Monday in continuing unrest.