Two men facing weapons charges were shot and hacked to death outside a Khulna courthouse on Sunday. The assailants fled the scene after the attack.

Police identified the victims as Fazle Rabbi Rajon of the city’s Notun Bazar neighborhood and Hasib Hawladar, the son of Mannan Hawladar. Both were defendants in an arms case filed with Sonadanga police station.

The incident rattled the courthouse compound. Lawyers expressed alarm that attackers could carry out a double killing in such a public, heavily trafficked area.

The assault unfolded shortly after 12:15 p.m. on the road in front of the Khulna District and Sessions Judge Court. Shafiqul Islam, the officer in charge of Khulna Sadar police station, confirmed one of the deaths, while emergency medical officer at Khulna Medical College Hospital confirmed the other.

Witnesses said the two men had been released on bail and had just left the courtroom after marking their attendance. They parked a motorcycle near the main gate and stopped for tea. A group of four or five attackers then walked up and opened fire.

Both men collapsed. The assailants closed in and struck them repeatedly with machetes before fleeing.

One man died at the scene. The other was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition where a duty doctor pronounced him dead.

Hasib’s brother, Shakil Hawladar, said his brother had recently been charged in the arms case and had come to court for a scheduled appearance.