Terror attack in Sydney Australia, Dec 2014

[McG]

Breaking news:

Hostages reportedly held in Sydney cafe
Police surround area
CTV News
14 Dec 14

SYDNEY — A major police operation was underway in downtown Sydney on Monday, where several people inside a chocolate shop and cafe could be seen through the windows with their hands held in the air.

New South Wales state police would not say what was happening inside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe or whether hostages were being held. But television footage shot through the cafe's windows showed several people with their arms in the air and hands pressed against the glass.

The footage showed two people inside the cafe holding up what appeared to be a black flag with white Arabic writing on it. It was not immediately clear what the flag said. Heavily-armed officers were lined up outside the cafe.

A police spokeswoman said no injuries had been reported from the incident.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the National Security Committee of Cabinet met to be briefed on the situation.

"This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner," Abbott said in a statement.

The cafe is located in Martin Place, a plaza in the heart of the city's financial and shopping district that is packed with holiday shoppers this time of year. It is home to the state premier's office, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the headquarters of two of the nation's largest banks. The state parliament house is a few blocks away.

Streets in the area were closed, offices evacuated and the public told to stay away.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/hostages-reportedly-held-in-sydney-cafe-police-surround-area-1.2147576

 

[jollyjacktar]

I hope it ends safely for the hostages, not the terrorists.

 

[cupper]

Why do I think that this will be a very interesting Christmas Holiday season. And not necessarily in a good way?

 

[dimsum]

I hope it ends safely for the hostages, not the terrorists.

Besides the Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police SWAT Teams, 2 Commando Regiment and friends are based in Sydney.  I wouldn't be surprised if some SAS Regiment folks are also based in (or shortly going to) the area as well.

 

[Edward Campbell]

I'm watching this unfold from a Sydney "inner suburb," my son and some in-laws are locked down a few blocks from the scene.

Prime Minister Abbott is not making this into a crisis; his government is actually going to deal, normally, with routine issues, e.g. a fiscal update, and he is letting the local authorities deal with it - Sydney is, after all, a big city with first rate police/security services.

The local news (ABC) is being very calm and collected.

 

[FJAG]

I wouldn't be surprised if some SAS Regiment folks are also based in (or shortly going to) the area as well.

They're two thousand miles away on the other side of the continent in Perth. (Sydney east coast - Perth west coast) But I don't doubt that someone's airborne.

:gottree:

 

[The Bread Guy]

I'm watching this unfold from a Sydney "inner suburb," my son and some in-laws are locked down a few blocks from the scene.

Stay safe.

Meanwhile, a quick summary from AUS media:

AS rumours about the Sydney siege circulate on social media, here is what we officially know about the ongoing hostage situation in Martin Place.

Confirmed facts:

● An unknown number of hostages are being held by at least one armed man in the Lindt Cafe.

● Events began around 9.45am today when a woman saw a man outside the cafe with a blue sports bag that appeared to contain a gun and the situation is ongoing.

● Some hostages held an Islamic flag known as The Black Standard to the window. There has been no official link made to terrorist group Islamic State.

● Five hostages have since fled the cafe, three appear to be cafe workers. Two have been named as Lawyer Stefan Balafoutis and Lindt Cafe employee Elly Chen.

● The police have made direct contact with the hostage-taker.

● Nobody is believed to have been harmed.

● Armed tactical response police units remain stationed in Martin Place

● Airspace in Sydney is open but some flights are being diverted around the CBD.

● Police handcuffed a man 200m from the cafe but clarified the arrest was unrelated to the siege.

● An exclusion zone was placed around the Sydney Opera House and tonight’s events there have been cancelled, but police are only dealing with one location, the Lindt Cafe.

Unknowns:

● The identity of the hostage-taker.

● The motivation of the hostage-taker.

● The demands of the hostage-taker have not been revealed. Police have asked that they are not to be made public as they could jeopardise the safety of the hostages.

● If the hostage-taker has any explosives.

● If the hostage-taker is acting alone.

● The numbers of hostages. Reports today ranged from eight to 50 but police confirmed there are ‘fewer than 30’ customers and staff inside. Indian IT giant Infosys confirmed one of their employees is a hostage.

● It is unconfirmed if hostages were released or escaped.

More ongoing coverage here and here

 

[Kat Stevens]

Now that's how you do a press release. No CNN style wild speculation as to motives and body counts.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Various AUS media are identifying an .... interesting character as the hostage taker:

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 ....

More on this guy (usual Wikipedia caveats apply) here.

 

[George Wallace]

Martin Place cafe siege: ‘Sheik’ Man Haron Monis is holding several people hostage as reported on Australia's 9 News.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

"Monis, who was granted political asylum in Australia, "


Hmmm no good deed goes unpunished.....

 

[The Bread Guy]

Twitter chatter indicates siege may be over or wrapping up.

 

[Treemoss]

Seems like it just came to a head. Another 5-6 hostages bolted out, then gunshots shortly after followed by police storming the cafe. As far as I can tell, there was CPR in progress on the person down by the cafe door, then again on the stretcher.

 

[The Bread Guy]

This from the New South Wales Police:

Sydney siege is over. More details to follow.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Latest from NSW police:

A critical incident investigation has been launched after three people died and four others were injured during a police operation in Sydney’s CBD this morning.

About 2.10am (Tuesday 16 December), a confrontation occurred between police and a man who had taken a number of people hostage inside a café on Martin Place. 

Shots were fired during the confrontation. 

As a result, the 50-year-old man was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

Another man, aged 34, and a woman, aged 38, were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital. 

Two women have been taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while a male police officer suffered a non-life threatening wound to his face from gunshot pellets and was taken to hospital.

Another woman has been taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to her shoulder.

A 35-year-old woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The police operation has concluded and the investigations into entire incident will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

All information will be provided to the Coroner who will determine the cause of and make any findings about the events leading to the deaths.

No further details are available at this time; however, police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone who can assist police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

[OldSolduer]

Now let the parade of apologists and Islamic Quislings begin.

 

[BorisK]

Now let the parade of apologists and Islamic Quislings begin.

It's already begun on Facebook.  Best one so far was a guy saying 'that isn't the flag of a terrorist group' and 'the attackers were jewish' and that they were 'just trying to make Islam look bad'.

Followed by 'Islam means peace'.  Based on what translation, I have no idea... I was always under the notion that it means 'submission'. 

:rolls eyes:

Ps - i'm able to nuance and get the complexity, it's just the immediate cries of 'it's not the religion' before the bodies even cool that irk me. 

Just my .02

 

[The Bread Guy]

It's already begun on Facebook.  Best one so far was a guy saying 'that isn't the flag of a terrorist group' and 'the attackers were jewish' and that they were 'just trying to make Islam look bad'.

My personal fave:  "The Americans were the only ones, like 9-11, with the resources to do something like this"  :facepalm:

Meanwhile, more from AUS media, via Twitter, quoting police from a news conference: 
"NSW Police confirm a male and female hostage, both in their thirties, dead. Gunman among fatalities. Four injured .... 17 hostages in total, inc. 5 escaped yesterday. Two hostages confirmed dead. Gunman also confirmed dead. One officer injured .... Gunshots sparked swoop on Lindt cafe which brought 17-hour #Sydneysiege to an end."

 

[cryco]

My personal fave:  "The Americans were the only ones, like 9-11, with the resources to do something like this"  :facepalm:

where do you find these things? It almost seems like a joke website, they can't believe that sh1t they post, can they?

 

[The Bread Guy]

where do you find these things? It almost seems like a joke website, they can't believe that sh1t they post, can they?

I wish I was making it up, but a certain segment of society really does believe it - try Googling "9-11 truthers".