islamic muslims take hostages is cafe' in Sydney

[Sdiver]

Happening now ....

Martin Place in lockdown and Sydney Opera House evacuated as gunman takes at least 13 hostages at a cafe and forces crying women to hold a 'black Islamic flag' up against the window

`Armed men walked into the Lindt café in Sydney's Martin Place at 9.45am
`Up to 20 people including staff and customers are being held hostage
`A black shahada flag is being held up in the window
`Reports that hostage-taker has a shotgun and possibly an explosive device
`Heavily armed police have sealed off area around the café
`Martin Place station is currently closed and buses have been diverted
`The Opera House has been evacuated after reports of a 'suspicious device'
`Siege comes just hours after suspect, 25, was arrested in terror raids


Terrorists are today holding up to 20 hostages in an armed siege in a cafe in Sydney where a black Islamic flag was being held up in a window.

Witnesses reported seeing staff and customers sobbing as they were forced to stand with their hands pressed against the windows of the Lindt cafe, in Martin Place.

There are unconfirmed reports that one of the hostage-takers has made contact with police saying that he has 'devices all over the city' and 'wants to speak with the prime minister live on radio', according to Ray Hadley, from 2GB.

Up to two gunmen are involved in the siege but dozens of armed police have sealed off the streets surrounding the site. One gunman is believed to have a shotgun and possibly an explosive device.

The incident began just hours after a 25-year-old suspect was arrested in a terror raid in Sydney.

Officials have also evacuated the Opera House after reports of a suspicious device.


Rest of story with pictures here .... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ocial-facebook

Link with live feed ..... http://controversialtimes.com/news/b...-in-australia/

[Flagg]

I guess the good news is that the ADF recently conducted a CT EX right there in Martin Place:

http://www.news.com.au/national/phot...3547255?page=1

[The Reaper]

What a surprise from the religion of peace.

For the thousandth time this month.

TR

[Flagg]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

What a surprise from the religion of peace.

For the thousandth time this month.

TR

I love visiting Australia(it's like our Florida/Vegas).

I'm over there approx 4-5 times a year on average(just got back 2 weeks ago).

And I've spent a good bit of time walking about Martin Place and other adjacent areas.

Comparing and contrasting NZ and OZ, both countries are awesome.

But while NZ has(in my opinion) a legitimate problem with a fairly small Somali refugee problem(outsized criminal activity and seeming failure to integrate), I would rate in my anecdotal experience("cab driver and walking around analysis") that Australia has a malignant immigrant integration problem.

There's a substantial ethnic Lebanese population that has developed critical mass in youth gangs and organized crime including bikie gangs/OMGs.

And there are illegal immigration ratlines from Afghanistan to Australia's northern neighbor Indonesia with a large number of Afghan illegal immigrants sitting in limbo offshore in PNG.

Thankfully, NZ is farther away with bigger waves and a continent in between us and them.

But it's our problem too.

-----

I can only imagine how much more "all hands on deck" this thing got(not only in that neighborhood, but the rest of Sydney, and the rest of the country) once the ISIS flag went up.

10 days before Xmas in a cosmopolitan area and public transit hub(heavy pedestrian traffic, major rail and ferry within 10's to 100's of metres) just across the street from a major media outlet.

It doesn't smell like a crazy loner in need of meds, it seems far more calculated.

[YM Cating]

It appears ISIS affiliates have taken several hostages in downtown Sydney, estimated at 12 hostages. The hostage taker/s have displayed a black flag. Still not sure if it's a coordinated attack or if it's a "lone wolf" situation. Either way, they're starting to make bold some moves.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ry?id=27595637



EDIT:

Just saw this has been posted somewhere else. Feel free to take it down, sorry about that.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by DocIllinois

Five hostages have successfully escaped at this time.

IMO, either the gunmen are very amateur, are releasing people based upon negotiation with LEOs, or the hostages are beginning to plan tactically.

In my opine: This is an all to common thread in these religious zealot hostage scenarios. The "handlers" crank up the peons and select the ones that have the "best" traits for success.

1)dumb
2)insecure
3)easily confused
4)marginal social skills
5)did I mention really stupid?

If the right ones get the job, the handlers get the desired results..

1)Positive PR for the faithful
2)New Martyrs
3)Fearful Sheeple

And if they aren't successful??
They get the same results...

[Sdiver]

It's being reported that SWAT has stormed into the cafe' and there are several hostages injured.

[Sdiver]

Video of SWAT entering the cafe'.

http://kdvr.com/2014/12/15/watch-pol...ostage-crisis/

[Sdiver]

Just being reported ...

SYDNEY SIEGE ENDS:
- After 16 hours
- 2 dead
- 3 injured
- Status of gunman unknown
-1 officer injured

UPDATE ON THE 2 DEAD
- 1 hostage killed by gunman
- Gunman, unknown if killed by SWAT or self inflected.

[JJ_BPK]

Seems the ‘Hate sheik’ Man Horan Monis has a history of violence..

Sydney siege: Gunman identified as self-styled sheik Man Haron Monis, on bail for accessory to murder

[Streck-Fu]

On bail for accessory to murder?

[The Reaper]

I wasn't there, but IMHO the video sure looks like a lot of bottlenecking and stopping in the doorway rather than a smooth continuous flow.

Unusual assault technique. RIP to the victims.

Piss on the Sheik. I hope he is burning in Hell right now.

TR

[Sdiver]

Another link with better video and pics.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...fe-Sydney.html

It surprises me, but yet it doesn't, that reporters down under, are just as dim-witted as their American counterparts ...

"We have reports that live ammunition is being used...."

[Team Sergeant]

Let's change the thread title, "islamic muslims take hostages is cafe' in Sydney"

[JimP]

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

Awful lot of ammo spent for one suspect. Seems they need more trigger time.

I think those flashes were nine-bangers, NOT the gunfire. You can see a couple of cops tossing quite a few into the cafe.