Hostages held in siege at cafe in Sydney's Martin Place

voiceofreason

Senior News Editor since 2011
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/hostages-sydney-cafe-martin-place-police-operation/5967232

Live: Hostages held in siege at cafe in Sydney's Martin Place
12/14/14

A number of hostages have been taken in a siege underway in Sydney's CBD.

At least three people have been seen through the windows of a cafe in Martin Place with their hands raised.


Key points:

Heavily armed police have taken up position around the Lindt cafe in central Sydney
Hostages have been seen inside the cafe with their hands in the air
Black flag with white Arabic writing reading "There is no God but Allah" and "Mohammed is the messenger of God" waved behind the hostages
Martin Place, Sydney Opera House, State Library and all CBD court houses evacuated
Lindt Australia executive says there are about 10 staff and up to 30 customers trapped in the cafe
National Security Committee of Cabinet has convened; Prime Minister Tony Abbott described incident as "deeply concerning" and offered NSW all assistance possible.
 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-...es-cafe-martin-place-police-operation/5967232

Sydney siege live: Police identify Lindt cafe gunman as Iranian cleric Man Haron Monis

12/15/14

Police have identified the man behind the siege at Lindt cafe in Sydney as Iranian cleric Man Haron Monis.

Monis has been holding an unknown number of people hostage at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place since Monday morning.

Three people emerged from the building about 4:00pm (AEDT) and they were followed by another two an hour later.

Hostages were earlier seen pressing a black flag with Arabic text against the cafe's windows.

Monis is on bail for a string of violent offences and has a conviction for sending offensive letters to the families of deceased soldiers.

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Iranian cleric Man Haron Monis is the man police believe is behind the siege at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place.

Monis, who was granted political asylum in Australia, is currently on bail for a string of violent offences, including being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.

He is also facing more than 40 sexual and indecent assault charges and has a conviction for sending offensive letters to the families of deceased Australian soldiers.

Police are currently negotiating with Monis, who is holding a number of people inside a central Sydney cafe, hours after five hostages ran from the building.

He entered the cafe at about 9:45am (AEDT) on Monday and has held an unknown number of staff and customers inside throughout the day.

His former lawyer, Manny Conditsis, described Monis as an isolated figure who he believes was probably acting alone.

"His ideology is just so strong and so powerful that it clouds his vision for common sense and objectiveness," he said.
 
http://www.news.com.au/national/mar...ron-monis-report/story-fncynjr2-1227156241649

Martin Place cafe siege: Police storm cafe and kill gunman ‘Sheik’ Man Haron Monis - report
December 16, 2014 3:33AM

LIVE: TWO people have reportedly been killed - one believed to be the gunman - in the Martin Place cafe siege after Sydney police stormed the location. As a result, the Lindt cafe siege is over.

Sky News reports at least four hostages have been injured, perhaps three critically, but their condition is unknown. Two of those required CPR at the scene. Meanwhile, a police officer has been injured with an amount of blood streaming from his head, Sky reports.

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It is understood a number of explosives were used in the confrontation with the gunman.

Authorities are currently attempting to assess the damage and arrange urgent medical attention for the hostages and police.

Sky said there were unconfirmed reports of two fatalities, one of which is believed to be the gunman. Some of the injured have been taken to St Vincent’s hospital.

Shortly before 2.45am (AEDT), police confirmed the siege was over.
 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2873855/Gunman-takes-hostages-cafe-Sydney.html

THREE DEAD IN BLOODY END TO SIEGE: Two hostages dead and Muslim gunman killed as police storm Sydney cafe with assault rifles and stun grenades moments after hostages fled

Police stormed the cafe in central Sydney where a gunman held hostages for more than 16 hours
Police moved in firing automatic weapons and throwing grenades as hostages were seen fleeing in terror from cafe
Live TV footage showed hostages running frantically from the cafe at shortly after 2am in small groups
It came hours after Man Haron Monis was named as the gunman holding people hostage in a Sydney café
Iranian refugee, 50, was charged with accessory in the murder of his ex-wife
He was also facing multiple charges of sexual assault while claiming to be a 'spiritual healer'
Monis received 300 community service hours for sending hate mail to the families of Australian dead soldiers
The siege follows an unsuccessful attempt to have these charges overturned in the High Court on Friday
He forced hostages to hold up a black flag with white writing in Arabic, an emblem linked to terror groups
Updated: 14:34 EST, 15 December 2014
 
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/20...ayward-australia-siege-mon-haron-monis-abuse/

Ex-Wife Of Sydney Gunman Sought Refuge In Bay Area Before She Was Murdered
December 16, 2014 12:01 AM

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HAYWARD (KPIX 5) — The ex-wife of the gunman who held people hostage in a Sydney, Australia restaurant for 16 hours this week sought refuge in the Bay Area from her abusive ex-husband before she was killed, the woman’s relatives told KPIX 5.

Mon Haron Monis, was facing charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife Noleen Pal, who had family in Hayward.

Ayyut Khalik, Pal’s godfather, told KPIX 5, “He was a scam artist, oh yeah. A liar, a scam artist.”
 
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