The incident happened in Lindt Chocolat Cafe that is located in Martin Place, a busy shopping area.
It was confirmed that those who died in this incident were Lindt Cafe Manager Tori Johnson, 34 and lawyer Katrina Dawson, 38 as well as a gunman. Four people were injured, but the names were unknown.
The gunman, Man Haron Monis, seized 17 hostages in a Sydney cafe. Names of those who were kidnapped are unknown. Some hostages were forced to hold a flag with Arabic words that stated “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the prophet of god.”
The Investigation
“Understandably, there is a lot of speculation, but it will take time to clarify exactly what happened … and why,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters Tuesday.
The cases have just ended and the investigation is starting.
Some hostages had allegedly posted some messages to social networking sites. However, police urged media not to show them because of personal privacy.
Police stated that it was feasible but not proven that there might be more than one suspects. It was unclear if this case was related to terrorism.
According to New South Wales Police commissioner Andrew Scipione, this is all they get, and the main focus for now is not to jeopardize those people who are still in the building.
Hundreds of police blanketed the city, and streets were completely closed. Citizens were told to stay away from Martin Place, site of the state premier’s office and the Reserve Bank of Australia for security concerns.
Exactly What Happened(According to BBC)
09:45 Monday local time- Police are informed to go to the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place.
10:09- Man Haron Monis is seen wearing a bandana.
12:30- Prime Minister Tony Abbott goes on national TV and states it as “deeply concerning incident.”
16:00-17:00- A total of five people, three men, two women, successfully fled from the fire exit of cafe.
18:30- Negotiation between police and Man Haron Monis starts.
02:20- Some hostages escape, the number is unknown, simultaneously, commandos go into the cafe.
02:48- Police confirm the end of case, while causing three death and seventeen injuries.
The scene of rescue operation was broadcast live on TV.
“I walked up to the door and then everyone was sitting down and the door’s locked which is pretty weird because it’s never locked and there was one guy walking around with a hat and a beard,” a man who identified himself as Bruno, a worker of the cafe. The person who was walking around with a hat and a beard might possibly be the Man Haron Monis, but there was no clear evidence to show that the person was the gunman.
Condolences to the Death and Injuries
“Katrina was one of our best and brightest barristers who will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends at the NSW Bar,” the New South Wales Bar Association said in a statement.
Johnson’s family also released a statement. It read, in part: “We are so proud of our beautiful boy Tori, gone from this Earth but forever in our memories as the most amazing life partner, son and brother we could ever wish for.”
Although the misery has ended, casualties have been created, and now, public and association provided condolences to the hostages’ families, while investigating the truth of this incident.
Citation
“Sydney Hostage Drama Grips Australia – Taipei Times.” Sydney Hostage Drama Grips Australia – Taipei Times. Taipei Times, 16 Dec. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2015. <http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/12/16/2003606841/1>.
“Deadly End to Sydney Cafe Siege.” BBC News. BBC News, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30485355>.
Pearson, Michael, Jethro Mullen, and Anna Coren. “With Two Hostages and Gunman Dead, Grim Investigation Starts in Sydney – CNN.com.” CNN. Cable News Network, 16 Dec. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2015. <http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/15/world/asia/australia-sydney-hostage-situation/>.