Martin Place Hostage Situation (2 Viewers)

[BLIT2014]

19.39 The gunman was originally from Iran and the New York Times' Tehran correspondent has spoken to a former classmate of his:

ThomasErdbrink Thomas Erdbrink
Former classmate of Sydney attacker 'Sheikh Haron' tells me he has never met a more crazier person in his life. "Completely nuts"

 

[BLIT2014]

19.09 The police won't comment on some reports that the gunman had fallen asleep and that's why they moved in. If their claim that he was shooting in the moments before they entered is true, it seems that he can't have been sleeping.
19.05 The police are indicating that they moved in because the gunman opened fire inside of the cafe. Here's what Commissioner Scipione said:
QuoteThey made the call because they believed that at that time if they didn't enter there would have been many more lives lost. Events that were unfolding inside the premises led them believe that now was the time to deploy and they did. I understand that there was a number of gunshots that were heard which caused officers to move straight to what we call an EA - an emergency action plan.
18.55 Police say no explosives were found in the cafe. They reiterate that they took action because they believed the gunman was beginning to open fire inside the cafe.
18.52 Police say that they stormed the building after hearing "a number of gunshots" fired inside the cafe.

They won't say whether the gunman killed the two hostages or if they were shot by the entering SWAT team.


18.50 The police say there were a total of 17 hostages, of which two were killed. The male officer wounded is in good condition and "grateful to be alive".

 

[BLIT2014]

Chris Reason @ChrisReason7 · 4h 4 hours ago
By our calculations, there were 21 hostages. Five escaped this afternoon, then 7 more at 2am. So approx 9 were inside when police went in

Chris Reason @ChrisReason7 · 4 hrs 4 hours ago
Bomb squad and detection robots currently sweeping cafe
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Chris Reason @ChrisReason7 · 5 hrs 5 hours ago
Police going in
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Chris Reason @ChrisReason7 · 5 hrs 5 hours ago
Another shot fired
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Chris Reason @ChrisReason7 · 5 hrs 5 hours ago
BREAKING Seven more have escaped, shots fired
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Chris Reason @ChrisReason7 · 7 hrs 7 hours ago
There's been movement at the cafe, the gunman moving a hostage past the window, two more hostages change positions. Not much sleep in there


Chris Reason @ChrisReason7 · 7 hrs 7 hours ago
Very little movement at the Lindt Cafe. One person, we believe to be the gunman, walking toward back office. He is carrying an iPad

 

[BLIT2014]

To recap: NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says the gunman at the centre of the siege, Man Haron Monis, acted alone and no explosive devices have been found at the Lindt cafe.


Latest Media Releases

Road diversion remain in place this morning - Martin Place

Tuesday, 16 December 2014 06:09:23 AM

Police will continue to maintain a perimeter around a cafe at the corner of Martin Place and Philip streets this morning.

Traffic and Highway Patrol police have cordoned off parts of Hunter, King, Phillip and Elizabeth streets.

• Elizabeth Street between Hunter and King Streets – closed to all traffic

• Elizabeth Street – northbound between Market and King Street – closed to all traffic

• Phillip Street – between King and Hunter Streets – closed to all traffic

• King Street – between Elizabeth and Phillip Streets – closed to all traffic

• Macquarie Street – between St James Road and Hunter Street – closed to all traffic

Bus services will run according to regular schedules, although some routes will be diverted around the affected area.

Train services will operate normally although Martin Place station remains closed.

People intending to travel to the Sydney CBD, away from the cordoned off area are advised, to go ahead with their plans.

Those affected by the operation are advised to contact their employers, monitor media reports and seek advice via the NSW Police website and social media platforms.


https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html#INCIDENT_490815

 

[BLIT2014]

Here is a small round up of the Australian newspapers and their front pages this morning.

The Sydney Morning Herald has the headline “Terror Hits Home” and leads their main story with “a man brandishing a gun and an Islamic flag”. The paper has 12 pages of coverage of the siege including a story headlined “Hallmarks of ‘lone wolf’ attack say experts” which seems to have been proved correct this morning by the NSW police commissioner, Andrew Scipione, who says the gunman was acting alone.
The Australian has the headline “Hostages’ night of horror’ and describes Man Haron Monis as an “Iranian self styled sheik”. An analysis written by Greg Bearup says “this may all turn out to be more lone nut case, than lone wolf, but this man provided a template for others more radical, and more able, to follow”.
The Daily Telegraph has the headline “Evil Strikes Our Hearts” and names Man Haron Monis as a “self-styled sheik and Islamic State preacher”. The newspaper has 16 pages dedicated to the coverage with a banner at the top reading “Sydney Under Siege”. The paper carries a report detailing a phone call from a 19-year-old hostage to the Daily Telegraph newsroom. The report says “This was an attack by the Islamic State. This was a lone wolf attack by a supporter or sympathiser of the evil Islamic terror group that had waged war with humanity”.
The Australian Financial Review has the headline “Islamic State-linked terror grips Sydney” and leads their story with “A gunman sympathetic to Islamic State” but notes he does not fit the typical profile of a young Islamic State-inspired radical.

 

[financialwar]

Look at the last guy, more than 10 seconds to pull out and throw a flash grenade and almost dropping it?? Are you kidding me? How unprofessional are NSW SWAT? it's takes half a second in COD.

 

[BLIT2014]

That bit about sleeping is wrong. He wasn't sleeping. What he was trying to do was to separate the hostages into two groups, but he wasn't able to do it by himself. It would have worked better if he had accomplices to help him.

One of the groups decided to escape and that's when he panicked and started to shoot the other group. And that is when police decided to go in to stop it.

It doesn't say the gun man slept. There were unsubstantiated rumours? I can't see any claims the gun man actually slept in the newspaper articles/snippets I posted?

 

[BLIT2014]

Unknown source: Channel 7 streamed the camera footage inside the Lindt CAFE they were shooting directly to police

 

[BLIT2014]

I'm not saying you are wrong. I'm saying the reports that police won't comment on about him being asleep are wrong. Some police were also heard saying "hostage down" BEFORE the police went in. So clearly he wasn't asleep.

Good point. I'll add a note to it so people don't get confused.

 

[BLIT2014]

Three people dead, four injured, 17 hostages - what we know so far

Police have confirmed three people died as the siege at Lindt Cafe in Sydney came to an end nearing its 17th hour just after 2am AEDT on Tuesday. Here is what we know so far:

Police have counted 17 hostages in total. Two hostages and the gunman died after police stormed the cafe when shots were fired just after 2am AEDT. Four people were injured in the confrontation, including a hostage who was shot in the shoulder.
About 11 people escaped during the siege. Five people escaped before 7pm AEDT on Monday and five to six people ran from the cafe in the minutes gunfire was heard from the cafe.
Police have launched an immediate investigation into the shooting and it is not yet known who fired the fatal gunshots.
Police believe the gunman was working alone. NSW police commissioner, Andrew Scipione, said the police involved saved “many lives” and acted after they heard gunshots within the cafe. He also called for people not to get carried away by speculation:
We need to actually find out what’s happened here and what’s happened inside that cafe. It’s not time to speculate or to develop theories. We are going to work through facts and we will advise you as soon as we can.
There is still an exclusion zone around Martin Place and workers in the vicinity are being asked to work from home if they can.
The gunman has been named, Man Haron Monis, who has faced court on numerous charges, including 22 counts of aggravated sexual assault and 14 counts of aggravated indecent assau

 

[BLIT2014]

current twitter trends


Trends · Change
#sydneysiege
#illridewithyou
#PrayForSydney
Lindt
Sony
Santa
#BlackMessiah
Islamic
D'Angelo

 

[BLIT2014]

Gunman, Man Monis posted this statement online, yesterday.

'Islam is the religion of peace, that's why Muslims fight against the oppression and terrosim of USA and its allies including UK and Australia..'

 

[BLIT2014]

Airlie Walsh @AirlieWalsh · 31m 31 minutes ago
Only one family left inside St James Court, yet to be reunited with their loved one. #sydneyseige


The Today Show @TheTodayShow · 49 mins 49 minutes ago
"This will bring up a lot of questions about the Bail Act" - Security Expert, Neil Fergus. #SydneySiege #Today9

UPDATE: 4 or 5 people currently being treated in hospital incl. a police officer. No one with life threatening injuries #SydneySiege #Today9

 

[BLIT2014]

Laura Tunstall @LauraTunstall9 · 24m 24 minutes ago
Injured police officer has been released from RNS Hospital. Will have to come back at a later date for surgery on cut to his hand @9NewsSyd


7:11am:

Victims at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

At 6.45am, a series of cars left the emergency reception of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, reports Daisy Dumas.

While their passengers are related to the incident, it is not known who they are or whether they are hostages or relatives. One was a woman, her identity protected by a jacket over her head.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, a number of hostages were taken to RPA.

7:09am:

Victims at Royal North Shore Hospital

Following the siege, two hostage victims and a police officer were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital, reports Josh Dye.

The 39-year-old police officer was discharged early on Tuesday morning.

A 43-year-old woman is in a serious but stable condition. She has a gunshot wound to her leg.

A 30-year-old woman remains in hospital but is expected to be released later on Tuesday.

The families at this stage have declined to speak to the media.

 

[BLIT2014]

Security expert Neil Fergus says #SydneySiege gunman 'disturbed, unorganised': http://short.ninem.sn/8UDmkPI #9News



( I could have told you that and I'm not an 'expert' )

 

[astroman]

R.I.P hostages, fk u gunman, u should be called Pussy Monis not Man Monis.

 

[BLIT2014]

The Today Show @TheTodayShow · 1m 1 minute ago
"He did this for personal gain...and to make himself seem significant" - Expert on terrorism, Dr Anne Ally #SydneySiege #Today9

(Channel 9 loves their experts... :/ )


Sleeping theory continues being given a voice by channel 9 (currently only reputable media outlet clinging onto this theory)

Nine News Sydney @9NewsSyd · 43 secs 43 seconds ago
Man Monis then awoke and fired first shots, possibly as many as three. Police then activated emergency plan. #SydneySiege #9News
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Nine News Sydney @9NewsSyd · 3 mins 3 minutes ago
It’s believed the gunman had started to fall asleep, hostages took opportunity and made break. #SydneySiege #9News

 

[BLIT2014]

7:16am:

'It sounded like a chain of firecrackers'

Sydney Morning Herald reporter James Robertson was at the scene when the tense 16-hour siege reached its terrifying crescendo.

Here, he describes how gunshots rang out just after 2am, as family and friends huddled nearby, waiting desperately for news.

"In an instant and after more than 15 hours of watching, there was a move on the door."

 

[astroman]

are the casualties: 2 hostages and 1 gunman?

 

[BLIT2014]

are the casualties: 2 hostages and 1 gunman?

Yep one male 38? one female 34? (The ages may be swapped round I can't really remember)