Sydney siege: Heavily armed police storm Martin Place Lindt cafe

[Turborama]

Source: ABC (Australia)

Heavily armed police have stormed a cafe in central Sydney, where a gunman had been holding hostages at bay since Monday morning.

Loud explosions could be heard from outside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place.

Dozens of paramedic crews were also at the scene with stretchers.

Minutes earlier, several more hostages had emerged from the cafe.

More to come.

Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/sydney-siege-martin-place-hostages-gunman/5969162

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Live blog with photos and updates: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/sydney-siege-hostages-cafe-martin-place-police-operation/5967232

Original Post...

Armed Police Have Raided The Lindt Cafe in Sydney

Watch coverage live here:

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Some reports are saying 2 dead, but police have not confirmed that

Some live updating sites:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-australia-30475711
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2014/dec/15/sydney-siege-reports-of-hostage-situation-inside-martin-place-cafe-live

At least 5 have come out on stretchers, that's clear.

[CJCRANE]

5. Another mentally unstable petty criminal

that should have been in prison or in an institution.

Note: posted in wrong place. Meant to post to OP.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Updates still coming in. More updates/background:

Australia commandos end Sydney cafe siege

Australian commandos have stormed a cafe in Sydney, ending a siege by a gunman identified as an Iranian refugee who took dozens of people hostage.

Paramedics carrying stretchers raced towards the cafe moments after the commandos moved into the cafe.

Several people appear to have been injured while the fate of the gunman is not yet known.

The centre of the city has been in lockdown since the gunman seized the hostages early on Monday morning.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30485355

[denem]

3. Gunman Among Two Killed as Sydney Cafe Siege Ends (Reuters)

Not yet confirmed by NSW Police. Presser imminent.

[riversedge]

4. ISIS member reveals:sydney siege a success for ISIS!

Dec 15 2014.


ISIS member reveals:sydney siege a success for ISIS!


Published on Monday, 15 December 2014 16:51 | 2015
MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING AUSTRALIAN HOSTAGES IS self styled clerc, NOT ISIS OR AL-NUSRA






an ISIS member ,Muhammed Al-Nasri describe Haron Monis a hero for Islam world and he encourage his 'bravery'.

Man Haron Monis, aka Mohammad Hassan Manteghi, has a criminal record, including 22 counts of aggravated sexual assault and 14 counts of aggravated indecent assault relating to six women.

In 2002 he faced charges in a plot to murder his first wife in Sydney. The woman, Noleen Hayson Pal, was stabbed to death and set on fire. According to the Telegraph, she met Monis through a newspaper classified ad in which he claimed to be a spiritual leader.

Monis is also known for sending offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers. He was sentenced to 300 hours of community service after pleading guilty to sending the letters.


http://fr.awdnews.com/politique/5830-isis-member-reveals-sydney-siege-a-success-for-isis.html

[Baclava]

6. "22 counts of aggravated sexual assault" - and he was out on bail?

In April, sex crimes detectives arrested Monis and charged him with sexually assaulting a woman in western Sydney in 2002, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Other sex-related charges were added regarding six additional victims, the newspaper said.

In 2013, he was charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, according to Australian news reports that say he has been free on bail.

http://www.wptv.com/news/world/man-haron-monis-aka-sheikh-haron-hostage-taker-in-australia-identified-says-source

[onehandle]

7. Clearly gun control is not working in Australia...

...is what gun apologists will say.

[christx30]

8. And correct thinking people like you

and me will point out that a once-in-twenty-year thing in Australia is about a weekly thing here in the US.
And when it does happen weekly in the US, it is far bloodier than this one was.

[DVDGuy]

9. You guessed right!

It's exactly what one of our locally elected state legislative council (upper house) members said today:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/guns-laws-didnt-stop-attack-vic-mp/story-fni0xqi4-1227158059674?nk=9ff662cdf35d04409330adb5c9f32875

His argument is that since gun laws did not stop this lone nutter from getting a gun, it means that gun control is not working and should be "reviewed". The classic "if the law does not prevent criminals from committing crimes, why bother having laws in the first place" argument.

And obviously, making guns easier to get for psychos like Man Monis will definitely help to have prevented this and other future incidents

[Cha]

10. Sydney cafe siege ends; 3 dead, including gunman.. UPDATE

snip//

One of the victims was Sydney lawyer and mother-of-three Katrina Dawson.

"Katrina was one of our best and brightest barristers who will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends" Jane Needham, president of the New South Wales Bar Association, said in a statement.

The other victim was identified in Australian media as the manager of the cafe, Tori Johnson.

http://www.newsday.com/news/world/sydney-hostage-crisis-police-storm-cafe-where-hostages-held-1.9714952


Jim Roberts ✔ @nycjim
Follow
Victims of Sydney hostage siege: Barrister Katrina Dawson; cafe manager Tori Johnson. via @smh http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/lindt-cafe-hostage-drama-in-martin-place-sydney-day-two-20141215-127suz.html …
12:57 PM - 15 Dec 2014 430 Retweets 110 favorites

So Sad. thanks Turborama