Hostage taking in Australia?

[WestCoastRunner]

Not sure what's happening in Australia. We see the ISIS flag being displayed and hostages hands being displayed on the front windows of a prominent cafe. Not much information being shared.

[WestCoastRunner]

This is the latest update:

An unknown number of hostages are being held by at a cafe in Sydney’s CBD as heavily armed New South Wales police move into position. Some inside the cafe were apparently forced to stand at the cafe’s windows holding up a flag bearing what appears to be the Islamic creed

[WestCoastRunner]

Canada has sent messages of support:

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2014/dec/15/sydney-siege-reports-of-hostage-situation-inside-martin-place-cafe-live

[Wilber]

Spooky. In October we had dinner at a restaurant in Martin Place.

[WestCoastRunner]

The latest blog shows that: Grainy images have emerged from the Lindt cafe siege showing what appears to be the gunman wearing a black bandana emblazoned with white Arabic script, my colleague Michael Safireports.

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2014/dec/15/sydney-siege-reports-of-hostage-situation-inside-martin-place-cafe-live

[WestCoastRunner]

Spooky. In October we had dinner at a restaurant in Martin Place.

Sounds like Martin Place is quite a popular place with tourists and workers.

[Guest]

It looks like three people have been released, or escaped.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/12/14/man-takes-several-hostages-at-lindt-chocolate-shop-in-sydney-report/

I wonder what is stopping them from just turning a sniper on the guy. Maybe he's not alone, or wired.

Edited December 15, 2014 by bcsapper

[WestCoastRunner]

It does sound like they escaped. There was mention of a couple of hostage takers.

[Guest]

Two more escaped. This is very strange. It doesn't sound like the fellow is too committed to the cause, whatever it is.

[AussiePatriot]

May we please borrow that awesome Sergeant-at-Arms of yours for a bit? It appears our cops took one too many PC courses.

[Boges]

Clearly an ISIS inspired attack.

[Black Dog]

Clearly an ISIS inspired attack.

Or just a nutter.

Australian media outlets, some citing police sources, have identified the armed man as an Iranian named Man Haron Monis, 50. He is reported to be known for sending offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers. CBC News has not independently confirmed the armed man's identity.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Monis was charged last year with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, and that he also faces 50 charges of indecent assault and sexual assault.

[scribblet]

Yeah, it was probably work place violence, couldn't be anything to do with the ‘Religion of Peace’

Gunman told police there are 4 bombs - 2 inside the cafe and 2 in Sydney CBD.. He brought the wrong flag and wants an ISIS flag delivered – hmm - deliver him the Au. Flag instead along with something else.

Just hearing explosions and shooting in the Sydney cafe, it looks like it's coming to an end, they decided to storm the cafe and make a delivery.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/martin-place-siege-man-haron-monis-has-long-history-of-hatred-of-politicians-20141215-127t01.html

[Black Dog]

Yeah, it was probably work place violence, couldn't be anything to do with the ‘Religion of Peace’

The guy was a nut even by the standards of Muslim nuts. Not sure why his actions should reflect on any other individual Muslim.

[scribblet]

Not reflective of all Muslims,but It was political and he asked for an ISIS flag. We are now seeing more lone wolf jihadis – you know, psychopaths, a key requirement for ISIS et al terror groups.

[Black Dog]

Not reflective of all Muslims,but It was political and he asked for an ISIS flag. We are now seeing more lone wolf jihadis – you know, psychopaths, a key requirement for ISIS et al terror groups.

I doubt these are the kind of people who ISIS would actually want on board. Also, what do you mean when you describe it as "political?"

[BubberMiley]

Yeah, it was probably work place violence, couldn't be anything to do with the ‘Religion of Peace’

Aren't Iranians mostly Shi-ite and ISIS all Sunni?

In any case, I would think the absolute stupidest thing you could do in a situation like this is try to paint lone-wolf psychos as being representative of the billion+ muslims on the planet. You want to isolate and weaken your enemy, not expand it and create a wedge between you and the reasonable people who would otherwise be on your side.

But I realize wedge politics can be very enticing.

Edited December 15, 2014 by BubberMiley

[Guest]

The guy was a nut even by the standards of Muslim nuts. Not sure why his actions should reflect on any other individual Muslim.

Aren't Iranians mostly Shi-ite and ISIS all Sunni?

In any case, I would think the absolute stupidest thing you could do in a situation like this is try to paint lone-wolf psychos as being representative of the billion+ muslims on the planet.

Very few would, and thankfully, there are decent people around to combat such a thing,

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/15/world/asia/australia-hostage-illridewithyou/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[Big Guy]

The perp seems to be a real winner - implicated in the murder of his wife, accused of sexual assault of a young lady who came to him for help, writing letters to parents of soldiers in Afghanistan calling their kids child killers etc. Does not sound like a devout Muslim to me. Had to request an ISIS flag.

But this is fodder to everyone with their own agenda and have no doubt this event will be used to further that agenda.

[Guest]

The Sydney Herald is reporting that the gunman is dead. Along with one other. Shame about the one other.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/lindt-cafe-hostage-drama-in-martin-place-sydney-day-two-20141215-127suz.html

[scribblet]

Very few would, and thankfully, there are decent people around to combat such a thing,

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/15/world/asia/australia-hostage-illridewithyou/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

No one is, that I know of, but this guy claimed it was political as per Tony Abbot's speech,

[Black Dog]

No one is, that I know of, but this guy claimed it was political as per Tony Abbot's speech,

And what are we do do with that exactly?

[marcus]

The guy was a nut even by the standards of Muslim nuts. Not sure why his actions should reflect on any other individual Muslim.

Why is an Iranian showing support for ISIS? This is all very weird. Religious Iranians are enemies of ISIS and their brand of Islam and vice versa.

Most likely another nutbar, but I'm sure this will be milked (if he is Iranian and wanting to fly the ISIS flag), by the typical pro-war people who want to find any excuse to lump anyone they see as the enemy into one superficial, "boogy woogy terrorist Muslim, who want to kill us all" category.

Waiting for Scribblet, PIK and Shady's and etc. comments.

[Guest]

I don't think anyone who wants to justify war against ISIS needs this kind of idiot to help them with it.

[Keepitsimple]

I doubt these are the kind of people who ISIS would actually want on board. Also, what do you mean when you describe it as "political?"

No - these are exactly the type of people ISIS wants on board. You have to be half-crazy to want to chop heads off and kill babies. They want people who will inflict maximum damage without remorse. Nutters = ISIS. ISIS = nutters. And yet there are still people who act as apologists. Give yourselves a shake.