Autopsy finds Italian victims of Dhaka attack were tortured

The bodies were retued to Italy on Wednesday and following an autopsy at Rome's Agostino Gemelli hospital, pathologists have confirmed the victims had suffered a torturous death.

The corpses displayed several wounds issued by machetes, bullet holes and traces of explosives, La Stampa reported.

Although each body showed signs of mutilation, no 'coup de grâce' had been given to the victims as the attackers tried to prolong their suffering.

Twenty-one people were killed in the attacks at the Holey Artisan Bakery. The other victims included seven Japanese, one American and one Indian.

The attackers stormed the cafe late on Friday, taking the foreigners hostage until troops entered on Saturday. Many of the victims were to death.

The nine Italian victims included four men and five women.

Another Italian, Jacopo Bioni, a chef at the cafe, was in the kitchen when the attackers arrived and managed to escape the massacre after climbing up to the roof and jumping off.

He sought refuge with a Muslim family until Saturday afteoon. Bioni, who had lived in Dhaka since 2010, immediately retued to Italy along with dozens of other Italians on Sunday.

Gearo Cottugno, a textile entrepreneur who was feared to have been killed in the attacks after being reported as missing, also retued to Italy on Tuesday.

In a video published on Wednesday, purportedly released by Isis, the Islamic extremists celebrate the attack and pledge more would be carried out in Bangladesh.