Australian Hostage situation

[MALC]

just showing hostage situation in sydney.in the lindt cafe.20 hostages being held by muslim jihadist flying their flag.

Mod Note
Thread title changed to something more relevant & thread moved to appropriate part of the Forum

[pomps]

On ABC+ now

[Aardvark]

Just heard on the Radio that Police "Special Forces" were getting readied. Everyone wants to be in the SAS these days http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/martin- ... 7156313698

[GT93]

Now now Aardy. I think downunder would say these days every Aussie wants to play for the navy blues. I think being in the SAS or police special forces would be second choice to being a professional sports person.

I can't say I'd want to be on duty and ready as a police officer to charge into this café.

[Aardvark]

I think the guys who sign up for these out fits get off on the whole Adrenalin thing. Reports are there could be as many as Fifty People in there. I don't think they'll be storming the place any time soon ...

[GT93]

I think the police know far more than they are letting on. They'd have had listening equipment focusing on the café within the first hour.

[Earnest]

Has anyone done a head count of our Aussies to make sure they're all here?

[Aardvark]

Looks like at least Five have Escaped which is good for them. Maybe not so good for the others if this creep thinks he's losing control .... http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/martin- ... 7156245751

[GT93]

It seems they think he has an IED (improvised explosive device)? He's possibly bullshitting as he might just be a crazed loner.

[pomps]

If the escaped confirm only one person then they should consider taking him out by sniper at the earliest available moment from a building directly opposite the shop.

[pomps]

Just watched some tv coverage showing the person walking around in the shop,windows are a decent size and very high and a sniper shot to the head could have been done by now but supposedly there has been some limited contact and police want to proceed down that path first

[merchant seaman]

Thought this kind of stuff only happened in the U.S. Maybe they are afraid of violating his civil rights.

[jackspratt]

The current position - according to Australia's most trusted news source.

What we do know

- An armed offender has been holding an unknown number of hostages inside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place since about 9.45am on Monday.
- New South Wales police know the identity of the hostage-taker, and he is known to police.
- Police have been in direct contact with the hostage-taker, and are conducting negotiations.
- A number of hostages have been seen with their hands pressed up against the glass of the cafe windows.
- Five people have fled the cafe since the siege began, but it is not clear if they escaped or were freed.
- The hostage-taker is "claiming political motivation", according to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
- The hostage-taker wants to be associated with Islam, as a black flag with an Islamic creed written on it in Arabic has been displayed in the windows.
- The flag is not the one used by Islamic State.
- The hostage-taker has been described as middle-aged with a beard, and wearing a headband.
- Martin Place, the Sydney Opera House, the State Library and all CBD court houses have been evacuated.
- The National Security Committee of Cabinet has convened twice; Mr Abbott described the incident as "deeply concerning" and offered NSW all assistance possible.
- NSW Health has confirmed that one of the hostages to emerge from the Lindt cafe siege is being treated in hospital. The man has been taken to St Vincent's Hospital where he is described as being in a satisfactory and stable condition.
- Hostages have contacted a number of media outlets, including the ABC, during the day. Police have asked the media not to reveal the contents of the calls.
- Airspace over Sydney's CBD was not shut down, despite reports to the contrary.
- People who have information about the situation should call the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.


What we don't know

- Precisely how many hostages remain in the cafe. A Lindt Australia executive said about 10 staff and up to 30 customers were inside, but police said the total number was not more than 30. A Seven journalist who said he had a view into the cafe said he saw about 15 hostages.
- The details of the motivation or aims of the hostage-taker, except Prime Minister Tony Abbott's statement that he is "claiming political motivation".
- NSW Police say "no-one has been injured as far as we know", so there is some uncertainty about whether anyone has been harmed.
- Whether the incident is related to terrorism - although NSW Police are "operating according to our counter-terrorism protocols".
- Exactly what weapons or explosives the hostage-taker may have access to.
- Whether those people who left the building escaped or were set free.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/s ... ow/5967610

[jackspratt]

Hopefully this will all be resolved with a happy ending. [-o<

If nothing else, something good has come from it:

A hashtag showing support for Muslim Australians has taken off on social media following a siege at the Lindt cafe in Sydney today.

#illridewithyou is trending worldwide on Twitter, rising by hundreds of tweets per minute since it began this morning.

702 ABC Sydney have had calls from Muslim listeners who say they are too scared to ride on public transport at the moment.

The hashtag appears to have come from a Facebook post from a woman who was riding on a train in Sydney, who noticed a Muslim woman quietly take off her head covering.

The woman said: "No, if you want to wear it, then wear it. I'll walk with you."..........

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/i ... ge/5969102

A kick in the arse for the ignorant, the bigots and the xenophobes. =D>

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Another good point is that Tony Abbott is looking and speaking positively Prime Ministerial.

The Australian authorities seem to be handling the crisis well, and appear prepared.

Nice report, Khun Jack, about the support for Muslims in Australia.

[Astana]

Flash, Crash and Bang Bang Siege Concluded..!

[Drunk Monkey]

Twood appear its all over ........... except for the ifs n ans as to how it all "went orf" .....

Sniper 1 has shot , sniper 2 has shot ......... shoot the fooker in the heed hours ago .....now alas wait n see the damage , news coverage seems just an old has been muzzie wanna be hero tomater ... wanting his 15 mins of fame .

Hope no deaths except the **** himself.

Hope all thats politically correct chaps

DM

[pomps]

Wait for Abbotts update later today once he is briefed fully in Sydney,so 2 hostages and the gunman die in the storming

[Zidane]

Three dead after commandos storm cafe Latest

Two people died, along with an Islamist gunman, after commandos stormed a cafe in Sydney, Australia, to bring to an end a 16-hour siege.
Local media have named those who died as Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34 and lawyer Katrina Dawson, 38.
Four people were injured, including a policeman hit by shotgun pellets.

The gunman Monis was on bail for being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife. He also faced more than 40 sexual and indecent assault charges.
He had also been convicted of sending offensive letters to the families of deceased Australian soldiers

What on earth was this guy doing out on bail when facing charges like these ?? He should have been locked up indefinitely till he was brought before the courts !

RIP to the two innocent victims.

[Bandung_Dero]

Yep, certainly hope the Judge who granted him bail is having a nice day!
And I thought this sort of incompetents was confined to the Thai judicial system.