Gunman, 2 Hostages Killed as Police End Sydney Cafe Siege

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
  • W460
  • W460
  • W460
  • W460

Two hostages and the lone Iranian-born gunman were killed as heavily armed Australian police early Tuesday dramatically stormed a central Sydney cafe to end a day-long siege sparked when the "self-styled sheikh" took 17 people hostage.

Police in SWAT-style gear hurled percussion grenades and opened fire, unleashing a flurry of loud bangs and flashes in the eatery in the heart of Australia's biggest city, after a number of the staff and customers managed to flee for their lives.

Police moved in after an exchange of gunfire, with the 50-year-old "lone gunman" shot and killed, New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said at a press conference.

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

"It was the act of an individual. This should never destroy or change the way of our life," Scipione said.

Channel Seven reporter Chris Reason, whose office is opposite the cafe, said a call came from police communications that there was a "hostage down", prompting officers to storm the building without warning.

An Agence France-Presse photographer saw one body carried out.

Royal North Shore Hospital had admitted a 39-year-old policeman with a gunshot graze to his cheek, a woman in her 40s in a serious but stable condition with a gunshot wound to her leg, and a woman suffering from backpain, a spokeswoman told AFP.

A bomb robot was sent into the building as police declared the siege over and medics tended to hostages but no explosives were found.

The hostage­taker, who earlier had unfurled an Islamic flag, was named by ABC television and other media as an Iranian-born "cleric" called Man Haron Monis.

They published a photo of him sporting a beard and a white turban and said he was on bail for a series of violent offences.

The pre­Christmas siege of the Lindt chocolate cafe began Monday morning and triggered a massive security lockdown in Sydney's bustling financial district as hundreds of police surrounded the site.

- 'A damaged-goods individual' - 

Monis' former lawyer Manny Conditsis said the public could be assured that the siege was not the work of an organized terrorist group.

"This is a one-off random individual," he told broadcaster ABC. "It's not a concerted terrorism event or act. It's a damaged goods individual who's done something outrageous."

The Australian newspaper called Monis a "self­styled sheikh" who had sent offensive letters to the families of dead soldiers and was on bail on charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.

It said he arrived in Australia as a refugee in 1996, lived in Sydney's southwest and was "understood to be a fringe Islamist."

Police declined to identity the gunman but would not deny reports naming him as Man Haron Monis.

Tehran swiftly condemned the hostage-taking by the Iranian-born gunman.

"Undertaking such inhuman acts and provoking fear and panic in the name of merciful Islam is not in any way justifiable," foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said, according to IRNA news agency.

The Australian government said earlier there was no clear motivation. But the Islamic flag appeared to be one commonly used by jihadist groups bearing the shahada, or profession of faith in Arabic script ­­ "There is no God but Allah; Mohammed is his messenger."

The gunman made a series of demands through Australian media but they were removed after police requested they not be made public.

Australia has been on high alert with the government raising concerns that citizens who have fought alongside Sunni jihadists in Iraq and Syria could return home radicalized and carry out "lone wolf" attacks.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott convened a national security meeting to deal with the "disturbing" development.

Some six hours into the siege, three men emerged from the cafe and ran for their lives. Around an hour later two distraught women employees also fled, and then several more people managed to run out late in the night.

One of the escapees was barista Elly Chen whose sister Nicole said on Facebook: "Yessss I finally see you. I'm so glad you're safe!!!!"

- 'Gunman rotating hostages' ­

Channel Seven's Reason tweeted earlier: "We can see gunman is rotating hostages, forcing them to stand against windows, sometimes 2 hours at a time."

The scene of the drama, Martin Place, is Sydney's financial center and houses several prominent buildings, including the New South Wales parliament, the U.S. consulate, the country's central bank and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Many shops and offices in the area shut early due to the scare, with only a trickle of people walking along usually bustling streets.

At the nearby Sydney Opera House, which police had swept earlier Monday, evening performances were canceled.

"It's sad to think this is my home and that it could happen anywhere," said onlooker Rebecca Courtney.

More than 40 Australian Muslim groups jointly condemned the hostage­taking and the use of the flag, which they said had been hijacked by "misguided individuals that represent no one but themselves."

The government in September raised its terror threat level and police conducted large­scale counter­terror raids across the country. Only two people were charged.

More than 70 Australians are believed to be fighting for Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. At least 20 have died.

Comments 58
Thumb Chupachups 15 December 2014, 09:17

Hmmmmmm

Default-user-icon roukuz (Guest) 15 December 2014, 09:25

may you RIP the_roar/ado.australia

Thumb nickjames 15 December 2014, 09:43

I hope Roar isn't stuck in the café...

Thumb Chupachups 15 December 2014, 09:52

No he's fine.

Default-user-icon + oua nabka + (Guest) 15 December 2014, 11:58

(the islamist flag up),these Australian should be warned by Rifi not to touch or burn the flag or else ma heik our minister of justice

Default-user-icon vald (Guest) 15 December 2014, 12:18

Why hasn't abbott shirtfronted the hostage taker?

Thumb Maxx 15 December 2014, 19:41

Ha ha. Good one. :)

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 13:16

The West were warned, from the very beginning, now the takfiris they funded are backclashing on them, as forseen.

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 19:32

Earlier this month Monis announced via his website he used to be a Rafidi (shia), one who rejects legitimate Islamic authority and leadership, but “now I am a Muslim”.

Default-user-icon mystic.be.moss (Guest) 16 December 2014, 06:03

Mystic always has something intelligent to say. Well said

Default-user-icon marko (Guest) 15 December 2014, 13:22

you guys are all effed up. Do any of you even think before you post?

Default-user-icon pollo (Guest) 15 December 2014, 15:12

what is "think"?

Thumb megahabib 15 December 2014, 15:33

The more the West turns a blind eye to Salafist terrorists, the more they'll get of this.

Missing mohammad_ca 15 December 2014, 16:57

eh eh salafist...he's a shiite ayatolla...

Missing mohammad_ca 15 December 2014, 16:56

right, he's a shiite ayatolla...

Missing mohammad_ca 15 December 2014, 23:27

Who said he supports ISIS?

Missing mohammad_ca 15 December 2014, 16:57

too bad for you guys this guy turned out to be a shiite ayatolla...

Thumb barrymore 15 December 2014, 17:00

lol, just goes to show you how ignorant and prejudice they are, funny though!

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 19:16

He wasen't a Shia any longer, he rejected shiism and embraced takfirism. Read it up on google

Missing mohammad_ca 15 December 2014, 23:26

No he rejected rawafidh not shiism

Missing Cloudhopper 15 December 2014, 18:11

YOu the roar, have the mentality of a dysfunctional baboon, and your comments proves it.

Thumb the_roar 15 December 2014, 18:41

Thanks hopper, may the Lord who created us all in his image, forgive you for thinking he did such a lousy job when he created me.

Thumb Tony.Farris 15 December 2014, 18:58

Not all Muslims are terrorists, just as not all Christians are not right wing nuts nor Jews members of a worldwide conspiracy. Religious bigotry contributes nothing worthwhile, only hatred and ruin.

I don't care about any religious affiliation. He's a criminal getting undeserved press.

Thumb cityboy 15 December 2014, 20:12

Very true, the sunni vs shia dispute has got to be the most embarrassing thing that the muslim community is currently dealing with. This idiotic subject needs to stop.

Default-user-icon _mowaten_ (Guest) 15 December 2014, 21:40

I was thinking the same thing exactly the same thing @cityboy!!!! We are so so much alike it is not even funny anymore. I hope people don't think we are the same poster. Please, change your style a little bit so as to avoid confusion.

Thumb Machia 15 December 2014, 18:18

I agree with you but it is not fair to blame all people who were born into a religion for the work of a few extremists.
There are more than one billion Muslims, pushing it to the extreme, let's suppose there are 20 million extremists does that make the remaining 980 million responsible?
Same thing could be said of any factor that distinguishes human beings, be it race, height, sexual orientation, nationality, etc.

Thumb Machia 15 December 2014, 18:21

to be clear I agree with the_roar but for the generalization.
I hope our fellow Lebanese in Australia will not be harmed because of the action of this crazy Iranian refugee.

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 20:10

http://www.theage.com.au/nsw/martin-place-sydney-siege-gunman-identified-as-man-haron-monis-20141215-127sxt.html

Earlier this month Monis announced via his website he used to be a Rafidi (shia), one who rejects legitimate Islamic authority and leadership, but “now I am a Muslim”.

No roar, he wasen't Shia.

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 20:12

Nobody accused the Sunnis for anything, takfirism is not a sect. That is what you people don't understand.

Default-user-icon Haron monky (Guest) 15 December 2014, 18:34

100*+ the roar ty for the good post it is a sad day for us in Australia

Thumb Tony.Farris 15 December 2014, 19:00

"Seige is over & Good luck to all Arab looking people living in Australia from now on....thanks to Islam."

Ignorant as usual *Coughing Lion*

Thumb ex-fpm 15 December 2014, 19:11

lol

Thumb the_roar 15 December 2014, 19:14

Read in context & hopefully understand what the message is.

Oh well you are fixated on M8-M14 & can't be objective..but do try.

Thumb Maxx 15 December 2014, 19:58

I don't often agree with you Roar, but when I do, it's over a common concern for how we are losing our Humanity due to ridiculous sectarian/political differences. It's sad to see how steadily we are degenerating into those political idols of ours who are not above politicizing even the gravest of tragedies.
Once again though, m3awwadeen bi salémtak. Hope you find yourself in the company of the typically cool Aussies and not the fringe bigots. Cheers.

Thumb the_roar 15 December 2014, 20:33

Many thanks for your kind words, Maxx...God bless you & your posts from now on will have much substance to me as you have proved to be a most decent human, first & foremost.

Aussies are cool, Maxx & things will get back to normality in time.
I was most disappointed when I checked to see the reaction on Naharnet & found the same Shia vs Sunni celebrations.

I learned something today...Most on here cannot post a decent comment at the most sensitive of times....shameful.

Thumb Maxx 15 December 2014, 19:49

M3awwadheen bi salemtak ya Roar. Glad to see that you're otherwise alright. But don't you think that the Muslims themselves, from both sides of the divide - not just in Oz but all over the world - are equally sick and tired of having morons kidnapping not just people, but Islam itself as well? Each time something like this happens you have Muslims all over praying "Please don't let it be a Muslim who did this, please don't let it turn out to be a Muslim!", fearing an Islamophobic backlash.
I'm just glad that most Australians seem to be aware of that too, and are being awesome and supportive of the Muslims: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-30479306
Cheers mate.

Thumb cityboy 15 December 2014, 20:06

Come on Roar, you have far more intelligence then to write something like that. Why not take a deep breath, wait a few days, question yourself whether this incident even took place. I know this may seem like a radical thing to ask but ever since 9-11 one really needs to question how much truth we are really being fed to us in the media. Any secret services agency can stage something and the media role will be to hype it as true in order to achieve a political aim. You know very well, most muslims are just like any other peoples trying to earn a living. We are currently witnessing a smear campaign against muslims and arabs largely for political motivations. It is no surprise, the usual suspects are sending more of their military to the middle east, including the zionist controlled Australia.

Thumb cityboy 15 December 2014, 20:32

m11er, you calling someone an idiot. now that is funny.

Thumb cityboy 15 December 2014, 20:16

Ok, sorry Roar, i read some of your further posts, I see you were trying to make a point. got it.

Thumb the_roar 15 December 2014, 20:40

no problem cityboy...RIP to the victim is all I can say.

Thumb the_roar 15 December 2014, 20:37

you missed the whole point once again....good onya M11..have a nice day.

Default-user-icon Australian (Guest) 15 December 2014, 20:40

I can only say naharnet don't give F???? About posters on this forum but thank your the roar for your good post 100 + m8

Thumb nickjames 15 December 2014, 20:43

Roar stop trying to look like you're above everyone else on this forum, and stop trying to look like now you hate "this sick religion called Islam." Because if your first post on this article was genuine at all, you would never be defending Hezbollah. You would never except a fanatical Islamic group, be it Sunni or Shia, to be controlling Lebanon and its Christians; you would not accept the idea that these fanatics are the "resistance"; you would not accept these terrorists "working side by side with the army."

So please, don't ever call Islam a sick religion again until you stop supporting Hezbollah, because they're part of the reason why parts of Islam are indeed sick. These people, be it Hezbollah, Deash, Nusra, Ikhwen, Hamas, Boko Haram, etc, are all blasphemous lunatics who are the reason why Islam is perceived as a sick religion.

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 20:49

nickjames, where does Hezbollah control the Christians? Do you see them, burn churches? Do they make them pay jizya? Do they force them to convert? Cut their throats? Behead them?

All those facts above, has one answer = ZERO times did any of that happen.

Resistance are existing to defend Lebanon, against Zionist/Takfirism and all their other minions. Which is why only "Christians" supporting Israel are against the Resistance.

Thumb nickjames 15 December 2014, 21:05

I see, so what makes someone a terrorist is not using car bombs, but it's beheading people and forcing them to convert, right... Mystic, have you forgotten what "terrorism" means?

Let me remind you, it means "the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims." 7 Ayyar is the prime example of terrorism. Hezbollah used violence and intimidation to take over Beirut and make a government that favoured them. Doesn't that qualify as "political aims." That's just one example of terrorism, I'm not even talking about all the political assassinations, I mean they were political, right? After all those who died were politicians...

Mystic, it's fine if you're Shia and Hezbollah gives you free electricity and moteur and whatever. But don't ever try to convince me that they're not terrorists. And don't try to convince me that they're a resistance.

Default-user-icon do you believe in magic (Guest) 15 December 2014, 21:10

An example of a "Christian" supporting Israel using Mystic's magic formula..

"In Lebanon there was a UN Resolution, the resistance has prolonged the time of occupation. There was a proposal ‎from Israel in ‎‏1994‏‎." - Michel Aoun

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 21:11

Do you know what real terror is? This article ofcourse relates to it, but don't act like your beloved Lebanese Forces, ever did any terror. Sabra & Shatila ring any bells?

The 2008 clashes, were the M14 that tried to muscle out the Resistance, they got their heads smashed in, and their zionist plot failed. Resistance is resisting people like you, whom want Israeli supremacy over Lebanon.

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 21:12

The Eden Massacre, too was a terrorist act. Geagea is a well known terrorist massmurder in all of Lebanon. So drop your bullcrap, and don't act all rightous with me.

Thumb nickjames 15 December 2014, 21:18

First of all about Sabra and Shatila, do you know who carried it out?? Are you sure it wasn't Hobeiqa working for Syria??? If Israel wanted a massacre they would have rolled their tanks through the camp and levelled it. Hobeiqa was a traitor.

And lmao of course you bring up Franjieh. Did you know that it was a retaliation? Did you know that Franjieh had whacked a Kataeb politician six days earlier?? And Gemayel ordered the hit, so that makes him a terrorist now?? And also, Geagea was shot before he even got near the house. He was severely wounded, Hobeiqa was the one who killed Franjieh

Thumb nickjames 15 December 2014, 21:21

Please when you argue with me, try to keep things in perspective. While yes, the Ouwwet did some things, it was in the middle of a civil war, where everyone else did things. Berri killed more Palestinians during the War of the Camps than Ouwwet in Sabra and Shatila. And Jumblatt terrorised how many Christian towns in the Harb al-Jabal??? So please Mystic stop bringing up things from 35 years ago

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 21:37

Karantina massacre, al-Zaatar massacre, Sabra & Shatila massacre. The list goes on and on, and the LF/Kataeb did the Israelis dirty work.

First you begged the Syrians to enter Lebanon, on your side. Then you sided with the Israelis when they intervened in 1982. There is no honor about you guys at all.

Be it 35 years ago, or before that. Doesn't change that it was the purest form of terrorism.

Thumb nickjames 15 December 2014, 21:57

They did want Syria's help, but once they made it clear that they're occupying, the LF turned against them. Ouwwet were taking weapons from Israel since the beginning of the war, they didn't just ally with them in 1982 so quit trying to distort things. You also forgot that Israel also entered in 1978 after the ba7riyeh massacre in northern Israel, remember? But of course, you just hate Israel and have no problem with all the Palestinians who took over Shia lands in the south then tried to take over the whole country...

Thumb nickjames 15 December 2014, 22:26

The problem with people like Mystic is that they've forgotten the meaning of terrorism, when it's a really simple definition. First it was car bombs, then hijacking planes, then guys hiding in caves, now it means beheading/crucifying people and forcing people to convert. When it's proven that Hezbollah are terrorists (1983 Marine barracks bombing, embassy bombing, 7 Ayyar, assassinations, etc) he compares them to Ouwwet which is irrelevant. Everyone was guilty during the civil war. But Hezbollah has continued its terrorist operations unabated since 1982.

Thumb Mystic 15 December 2014, 20:53

roar, you are being emotional again. Why do you not read the link I made above?

Thumb nickjames 15 December 2014, 20:58

You don't give two Fs -- right now, but come tomorrow you'll be back to your normal self being a Hezbo-Aouneh. "Our politics" yet you're on this site until 5am praising Aoun and the resistance for defending Lebanon, please... All I said was if your post was real, you would be against all types of radical Islam. Maybe today it was an awakening for you, that these types of people can come where you live and take your city hostage.

If your first post today was serious, from now on I want to see changes in your thinking.

Default-user-icon Australian (Guest) 15 December 2014, 20:43

It is very sad 2 days for us in Australia

Thumb Machia 15 December 2014, 22:51

Mystic, you are opening the war files and there, everyone is guilty. Everyone. We are talking about Lebanon in 2014. We had enough of war. The only militia that is still armed is Hezbollah. It is time to respect our minds, stop the propaganda and join the Lebanese army.
If Hezbollah cares so much about arming the military than they should give them all their weapons and stop being a militia.

Thumb Machia 15 December 2014, 22:56

But Hezbollah is not only a militia. Its members are accused of killing Rafic Hariri and many other Lebanese civilians and politicians. It is accused of invading Beirut with its weapons and that is decades after the civil war and the general amnesty that was granted.
Without this amnesty Berri, Jumblatt, Aoun and senior Hezbollah members would all be "technically" in jail.