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Sydney siege: Australia has been struck by the act of terror it feared Sydney siege: Australia has been struck by the act of terror it feared
(35 minutes later)
It was the act of terror that Australia feared would come but could do little to anticipate and even less to prevent.It was the act of terror that Australia feared would come but could do little to anticipate and even less to prevent.
It arrived, characteristically, when least expected – just as the country was winding down with office Christmas parties ahead of the customary hazy summer languor of cricket, family gatherings and beach.It arrived, characteristically, when least expected – just as the country was winding down with office Christmas parties ahead of the customary hazy summer languor of cricket, family gatherings and beach.
And then it came to an ordinarily welcoming morning coffee shop, the Lindt Chocolat café in Sydney’s Martin Place, in the form of Man Haron Monis. And then it came to an ordinarily welcoming morning coffee shop, the Lindt Chocolat cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place, in the form of Man Haron Monis.
It makes tragic little difference to the two dead hostages and the survivors, who must live forever with the terrifying legacy of their experiences, that Monis was apparently an auto-radicalised terrorist, acting partly under the banner of contorted, extreme Islam.It makes tragic little difference to the two dead hostages and the survivors, who must live forever with the terrifying legacy of their experiences, that Monis was apparently an auto-radicalised terrorist, acting partly under the banner of contorted, extreme Islam.
It already seems probable that Monis was not a remote drone acting directly for the Islamic State (Isis), as others who have come to the attention of Australian counter-terrorism authorities have allegedly been. Rather, as Tony Abbott pointed out early on Tuesday morning, he was a mentally unstable man who “cloaked his actions with the symbolism of the Isis death cult”.It already seems probable that Monis was not a remote drone acting directly for the Islamic State (Isis), as others who have come to the attention of Australian counter-terrorism authorities have allegedly been. Rather, as Tony Abbott pointed out early on Tuesday morning, he was a mentally unstable man who “cloaked his actions with the symbolism of the Isis death cult”.
Abbott’s statement is a temperate departure from comments he made a few months ago after the shooting of a Muslim man near a Sydney mosque and an earlier unrelated incident in Melbourne in which police shot dead an Islamic radical.Abbott’s statement is a temperate departure from comments he made a few months ago after the shooting of a Muslim man near a Sydney mosque and an earlier unrelated incident in Melbourne in which police shot dead an Islamic radical.
Commenting in September on those incidents, Abbott said:Commenting in September on those incidents, Abbott said:
Well obviously we saw the attack on two policemen in Victoria a month or so back. It seems there is an [Isis] death cult influence on this shooting in Sydney in the last 24 hours or so. The important thing is for all of us to absolutely reject this death cult.Well obviously we saw the attack on two policemen in Victoria a month or so back. It seems there is an [Isis] death cult influence on this shooting in Sydney in the last 24 hours or so. The important thing is for all of us to absolutely reject this death cult.
But in measured statements during and after the siege yesterday and today, Abbott offered Australians much-needed assurance and empathy, rather than linking the dead terrorist firmly to Islamic State.But in measured statements during and after the siege yesterday and today, Abbott offered Australians much-needed assurance and empathy, rather than linking the dead terrorist firmly to Islamic State.
Notwithstanding the number of Australian men who have been drawn to the Isis fight in Syria and Iraq, and suspected terrorists already arrested and charged locally, it seems a sensible way to proceed. Abbott’s security mandarins have been on the record for some time about the danger of auto-radicalisation.Notwithstanding the number of Australian men who have been drawn to the Isis fight in Syria and Iraq, and suspected terrorists already arrested and charged locally, it seems a sensible way to proceed. Abbott’s security mandarins have been on the record for some time about the danger of auto-radicalisation.
In August the then director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio), David Irvine, said “a recurring nightmare has been the so-called lone wolf, radicalised over the Internet, who had managed to avoid coming across our radar”. In August the then director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio), David Irvine, said “a recurring nightmare has been the so-called lone wolf, radicalised over the internet, who had managed to avoid coming across our radar”.
And with Monis – a “damaged goods individual” according to his own lawyer – it has come to pass. This is an incident to which all Australians (and citizens anywhere who assume it is safe to buy a morning coffee without becoming a hostage) can relate and, therefore, be fearful of. That is the universal potency of terrorism.And with Monis – a “damaged goods individual” according to his own lawyer – it has come to pass. This is an incident to which all Australians (and citizens anywhere who assume it is safe to buy a morning coffee without becoming a hostage) can relate and, therefore, be fearful of. That is the universal potency of terrorism.
Moments such as these test political leaders. Abbott told his traumatised country:Moments such as these test political leaders. Abbott told his traumatised country:
I can think of almost nothing more distressing, more terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation and our hearts go out to these people.I can think of almost nothing more distressing, more terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation and our hearts go out to these people.
It required neither more nor less. But as the siege developed, imprudent hyperbole captivated some headline writers, not least at the The Daily Telegraph, whose special edition screamed “DEATH CULT CBD ATTACK – IS takes 13 hostages in city café siege”. It required neither more nor less. But as the siege developed, imprudent hyperbole captivated some headline writers, not least at the The Daily Telegraph, whose special edition screamed “DEATH CULT CBD ATTACK – IS takes 13 hostages in city cafe siege”.
It was, we were advised, “the instant we changed forever”.It was, we were advised, “the instant we changed forever”.
But it wasn’t really. Australia and Australians, here and abroad, have had sufficient deadly brushes with the terrorism of contorted Islam to understand their own susceptibility. Our distance, always considered such a tyranny, offers us little safety from the darker uses of the internet, where hatred is easily spawned and the deranged easily captivated by deformed religion.But it wasn’t really. Australia and Australians, here and abroad, have had sufficient deadly brushes with the terrorism of contorted Islam to understand their own susceptibility. Our distance, always considered such a tyranny, offers us little safety from the darker uses of the internet, where hatred is easily spawned and the deranged easily captivated by deformed religion.
The frequently naïve chatter of social media and the white noise of rolling, 24-hour news coverage – of journalists who know nothing live crossing to those who know little more, in an endless barrage of speculation – brought new dimensions to inanity, irresponsibility and perhaps insensitivity.The frequently naïve chatter of social media and the white noise of rolling, 24-hour news coverage – of journalists who know nothing live crossing to those who know little more, in an endless barrage of speculation – brought new dimensions to inanity, irresponsibility and perhaps insensitivity.
A traumatised employee of the Lindt café, who narrowly escaped becoming a hostage with her work colleagues, was asked on air, “How do you feel ... knowing that could be you?” Who is genuinely served by such an interview? A traumatised employee of the Lindt cafe, who narrowly escaped becoming a hostage with her work colleagues, was asked on air, “How do you feel ... knowing that could be you?” Who is genuinely served by such an interview?
Thankfully acts of kindness reverberate in times of evil. That’s why Tessa Kum’s hashtag #Illridewithyou – an evocation of support for Muslims, who are rightly fearful of an anti-Islam backlash after the Martin Place siege – has been mentioned more than 120,000 times on Twitter.Thankfully acts of kindness reverberate in times of evil. That’s why Tessa Kum’s hashtag #Illridewithyou – an evocation of support for Muslims, who are rightly fearful of an anti-Islam backlash after the Martin Place siege – has been mentioned more than 120,000 times on Twitter.
It’s a beautifully conceived reminder that such attacks, whether carried out by Isis or a lone wolf, are antithetical to nearly all Australians.It’s a beautifully conceived reminder that such attacks, whether carried out by Isis or a lone wolf, are antithetical to nearly all Australians.
Abbott this morning declared there are “lessons to be learned” from what happened yesterday and overnight. As Australia winds down for the beach and the cricket and extended family time, there is plenty else besides to think about this year. There’re lessons for everyone, all right. Abbott on Tuesday morning declared there were “lessons to be learned” from what happened yesterday and overnight. As Australia winds down for the beach and the cricket and extended family time, there is plenty else besides to think about this year. There are lessons for everyone, all right.