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Police in Sydney: 3 dead in raid to free captives held by Iranian-born gunman Police in Sydney: 3 dead in raid to free captives held by Iranian-born gunman
(35 minutes later)
In a blitz-style assault, Australian riot police ended a more than 16-hour hostage crisis as frightened captives rushed onto streets amid intense gunfire that fatally wounded the self-styled Muslim cleric who held them, authorities said. In a blitz-style assault early Tuesday, Australian riot police ended a 16-hour hostage crisis as frightened captives rushed onto the streets amid intense gunfire that fatally wounded the self-styled Muslim cleric who held them.
A police statement in Sydney said two others died — a 34-year-old man and 38-year-old woman — during the predawn police operation Tuesday. The third person, described by other police officials as the hostage-taker, was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, the statement said. A police statement said two people — a 34-year-old man and 38-year-old woman — died during the predawn police operation in downtown Sydney. The statement also said that a third person, described by other police officials as the hostage-taker, was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.
Four others were injured, including a police officer hit in the face by gunshot pellets.Four others were injured, including a police officer hit in the face by gunshot pellets.
The motives for the hostage-taking remain unclear. But the Iranian-born gunman was was convicted last year of sending hate mail to families of Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan, and is facing other charges including alleged links to the murder of his former wife. The motives for the hostage-taking at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe remain unclear. But the Iranian-born gunman was convicted last year of sending hate mail to families of Australian troops killed in Afghanistan and was facing other charges, including alleged links to the killing of his former wife.
The decision to launch the police assault was apparently prompted by worries the gunman, identified as 50-year-old Man Haron Monis, was growing uneasy and began corralling some captives in a section of the cafe. The decision to carry out the police raid was apparently prompted by worries that the gunman, identified as 50-year-old Man Haron Monis, was growing uneasy and and had begun corralling some captives in a section of the cafe.
“They made the call because they believed that, at that time, if they didn’t enter, there would have been many more lives lost,” said New South Wales state police Commissioner Andrew Scipione. “They made the call because they believed that, at that time, if they didn’t enter, there would have been many more lives lost,” said Andrew Scipione, commissioner of the New South Wales state police.
The long showdown riveted the world’s attention and raised questions over the possibility of another so-called “lone wolf” attack inspired by militants such as the Islamic State. Earlier this month, a woman in the United Arab Emirates fatally stabbed an American teacher in a slaying that Abu Dhabi officials partially blamed on influence from radical Islam. The long showdown drew the world’s attention and raised questions about the possibility of another “lone wolf” attack inspired by calls from militant groups such as the Islamic State. Earlier this month, when a woman in the United Arab Emirates fatally stabbed an American teacher, Abu Dhabi officials partially blamed the slaying on the influence of radical Islam.
Australia has been threatened with violence by the Islamic State and other extremists in part for its participation in the U.S.-led battle with extremists in Iraq and Syria. New security measures have been put in place in recent months in response, and several arrests have been made for suspects allegedly plotting acts of violence. Islamic State and other extremists had threatened Australia with violence for its participation in the U.S.-led campaign against jihadists in Iraq and Syria. Australia, in response, has imposed new security measures in recent months and made several arrests of suspects accused of plotting acts of violence.
The raid at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe began with no advance warning. Suddenly, a series of loud bangs sounded — possibly stun grenades — and intense gunfire followed. Police poured in the building, weapons drawn and protective face masks lowered. Hostages raced in the other direction, some with hands raised. The raid at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe began with no advance warning. Suddenly, a series of bangs sounded — possibly from stun grenades — and intense gunfire followed. Police poured in, weapons drawn and face masks in place. Hostages raced in the other direction, some with hands raised.
Scipione said 17 people were taken hostage at the beginning of the siege. Five people later escaped as the drama unfolded, including scenes in which captives held a black Islamic flag to the window. Scipione said the gunman initially took 17 people hostage. Five people later escaped as the drama unfolded, including scenes in which captives were forced to hold a black Islamic flag to the window.
“The Sydney siege is over,” said Twitter post from the New South Wales Police, which covers Sydney. He was sentenced to 300 hours of community service for sending the threatening and harassing letters to the families of the fallen military personnel. Monis was later charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife. He was also charged with sexually assaulting a woman in 2002.
Shortly before the police moved in, Australian media named the hostage-taker as Monis, a self-styled Islamic cleric and “spiritual healer.” He has been out on bail on the charges, the Reuters news agency reported. Australia’s 9News said Monis — who also went by the names Sheik Haron and Mohammad Hassan Manteghi — moved to Australia in 1996 and was granted political asylum.
He was sentenced to 300 hours of community service for sending the threatening and harassing letters to the families of the fallen military personnel. Monis was later charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife and charged with the sexual assault of a woman in 2002. His Web site shows graphic images of children that the site claims were killed by U.S. and Australian airstrikes. The site insists that Monis “supports his Muslim brothers [and] sisters” but it not affiliated with specific groups.
He has been out on bail on the charges, the Reuters news agency reported. Australia’s 9News said Monis — who also went by the names Sheik Haron and Mohammad Hassan Manteghi — migrated to Australia in 1996 and was granted political asylum. Still, authorities are certain to explore possible connections to Islamist factions or propaganda. Before the raid, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said only that the hostage-taker was “claiming political motivation.”
His Web site shows graphic images of children that the site claims were killed by U.S. and Australian airstrikes. The site insists he “supports his Muslim brothers [and] sisters” but it not affiliated with specific groups.
Still, authorities are certain to explore possible connections to Islamist factions or propaganda. Before the raid, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said only that the hostage-taker was “claiming political motivation.”
“The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves,” he said.“The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves,” he said.
Monis’s former lawyer, Manny Conditsis, described Monis as an “isolated figure,” according to ABC Australia. Monis’s former attorney, Manny Conditsis, described him as an “isolated figure,” according to the Australia Broadcasting Corp.
“His ideology is just so strong and so powerful that it clouds his vision for common sense and objectiveness,” he told the paper. “His ideology is just so strong and so powerful that it clouds his vision for common sense and objectiveness,” the lawyer told the paper.
The events on Martin Place -- near Sydney’s landmark sail-shaped opera house — began as Monday morning rush hour was just starting to quiet. Witnesses said they saw a man with a gun walk into the cafe about 9:45 a.m. The events on Martin Place — near Sydney’s landmark sail-shaped opera house — began as the Monday morning rush hour was just starting to quiet. Witnesses said they saw a man with a gun walk into the cafe about 9:45 a.m.
Soon, local TV stations filmed people through a window with their hands raised or palms pressed against the glass. Two held up a black sign with Arabic writing expressing the Shahada, or Islamic declaration of faith: “There is no God but Allah” and “Mohammed is the messenger of God.” Soon, local TV stations showed footage shot through the cafe’s windows of people with their hands raised or palms pressed against the glass. Two held up a black sign bearing Arabic writing that expressed the Shahada, or Islamic declaration of faith: “There is no God but Allah” and “Mohammed is the messenger of God.”
About 4 p.m., three men ran from the cafe’s fire exit. One was wearing a brown Lindt cafe apron. About an hour later, two women sprinted from the same side door and ran into the arms of police. Both women were wearing Lindt aprons and also appeared to be employees. About 4 p.m., three men ran from the cafe’s fire exit, one of them wearing a brown Lindt cafe apron. About an hour later, two women sprinted out the same side door, into the arms of police. Both women were wearing Lindt aprons and also appeared to be employees.
While many details about siege remained unanswered, the location suggested it was picked for maximum effect. The cafe is just yards from the newsroom of Channel Seven, the nation’s most-watched commercial broadcaster. Within minutes, a huge media contingent was camped out across from the cafe. Although many details about the siege remain unanswered, the choice of the location suggested that it was picked for maximum effect. The cafe is just yards from the newsroom of Channel Seven, the nation’s most-watched commercial broadcaster. Within minutes, a huge media contingent was camped across from the cafe.
One radio reporter said he received a call from a “young person” held inside the cafe, but said it would have been “irresponsible” to put him on the air in case the broadcast endangered others. One radio reporter said that he received a call from a “young person” held inside the cafe but that it would have been “irresponsible” to put him on the air in case the broadcast endangered others.
“I could hear the hostage-taker in the background issuing instructions to him on what to request me to say on air,” the reporter, Ray Hadley of Radio 2GB, told the Australia Broadcasting Corporation. “I could hear the hostage-taker in the background issuing instructions to him on what to request me to say on air,” the reporter, Ray Hadley of Radio 2GB, told the Australia Broadcasting Corp.
Hadley only broadcast an impassioned plea: “If there are no children in there, please release the women.”Hadley only broadcast an impassioned plea: “If there are no children in there, please release the women.”
At about 9 p.m. Sydney time, the lights in the cafe were switched off. Police put on night-vision goggles and reinforced the cordon around the building.At about 9 p.m. Sydney time, the lights in the cafe were switched off. Police put on night-vision goggles and reinforced the cordon around the building.
The assault came several hours later. By 2:45 a.m, police had declared the operation over. The raid came several hours later. By 2:45 a.m, police had declared the operation over.
Muslim leaders in Australia, including the country’s grand mufti, Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, deplored the incident as a “criminal act.” Muslim leaders in Australia, including the grand mufti, Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, deplored the incident as a “criminal act.”
Downtown Sydney had been placed on lockdown, evoking memories of a similar street-clearing order in late October after a lone gunman stormed the Canadian parliament in Ottawa. While the hostage crisis was underway, downtown Sydney was placed on lockdown, evoking memories of a similar street-clearing order in late October after a lone gunman stormed the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa.
Helicopters hovered over the city. Surrounding streets and a train station were shut down. The Sydney Opera House, State Library and the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney were evacuated. The Sydney Opera House canceled Monday evening’s performances. Helicopters hovered over the city. Surrounding streets and a train station were shut down. The Sydney Opera House, the state library and the U.S. Consulate General iwere evacuated. The opera house canceled Monday evening’s performances.
After the incident, world leaders were briefed on the situation. President Obama spoke with his counterterrorism adviser, Lisa Monaco. After the incident, world leaders were briefed on the situation. President Obama spoke with Lisa Monaco, his counterterrorism adviser.
One woman sent a text to her cousin -- a single exclamation point -- from the cafe moments after it was seized. One woman sent a text to her cousin — a single exclamation point — from the cafe moments after it was seized.
“I knew there was something wrong,” the relative told the Daily Mail Australia, declining to give her name at the time because of fears it could put her cousin in danger. “I knew there was something wrong,” the relative told the Daily Mail Australia, declining to give her name at the time because of fears that it could put her cousin in danger.
Peter Holley contributed to this report.Peter Holley contributed to this report.