This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30490696

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sydney siege: Australia begins investigation into deaths Sydney siege: Australia begins investigation into deaths
(about 1 hour later)
An investigation has been launched into the police operation which ended a siege in a cafe in Sydney, Australia.An investigation has been launched into the police operation which ended a siege in a cafe in Sydney, Australia.
Two people died, along with the gunman, as police commandos stormed the cafe in Martin Place in the heart of Sydney early on Tuesday morning.Two people died, along with the gunman, as police commandos stormed the cafe in Martin Place in the heart of Sydney early on Tuesday morning.
Tributes are being paid to the victims and flags are flying at half mast on all NSW government buildings. The victims have named in the media as cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34 and Sydney lawyer Katrina Dawson, 38.
Police are also investigating the motives of the attacker, Man Haron Monis, a known extremist and criminal. Tributes are being paid to them and flags are flying at half mast on all NSW government buildings.
The probe into the police actions, led by New South Wales Homicide Squad detectives on behalf of the state's coroner, could take weeks or months. Police are also investigating the motives of the attacker, named as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian refugee who was a known extremist and criminal.
At a press conference on Tuesday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said: "It's extremely important that I do not say a great deal about the events of the past 24 hours [while that investigation takes place]." Meanwhile Australia is on a heightened security alert. On Tuesday, staff were evacuated from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in the capital, Canberra, after a suspicious package was found.
Central Sydney was put in lockdown as the gunman, an Iranian refugee who had lived in Australia for many years, seized hostages on Monday morning. Central Sydney was put in lockdown on Monday morning as the gunman entered the Lindt Chocolat Cafe and seized hostages. The siege ended as police stormed the cafe in the early hours of Tuesday.
The 16-hour siege ended after police stormed the Lindt cafe in the early hours of Tuesday. The investigation - standard practice when police are involved in a fatal incident - is being led by New South Wales Homicide Squad detectives on behalf of the state's coroner, and could take weeks or months.
Local media have named those who died as cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34 and Sydney lawyer Katrina Dawson, 38. At a press conference on Tuesday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn would not say whether Monis shot the hostages himself. Nor would she confirm media reports that cafe manager Mr Johnson was shot when he grappled with Monis, who was carrying a gun.
Four people were injured, including a policeman hit in the face by shotgun pellets. The policeman has been discharged from hospital. Asked if police stormed the cafe because of something they saw or heard from within the cafe, Commissioner Burn would say only that "shots were heard and an emergency action plan was activated".
Two of the surviving hostages were pregnant and taken to hospital for "health and welfare purposes", NSW Police said in a statement. They were uninjured. She said it was "extremely important that I do not say a great deal about the events of the past 24 hours" while the investigation is under way. But she said that "every single one of those hostages acted courageously".
Three other surviving hostages suffered gunshot wounds to the shoulder, foot and leg respectively and all are in a stable condition, said the statement. A policeman who was hit in the face by shotgun pellets during the raid has since been discharged from hospital. Three others who suffered gunshot wounds are in a stable condition, NSW Police said in a statement.
Commissioner Burn would not say whether Monis shot the hostages himself. Nor would she confirm media reports that cafe manager Mr Johnson was shot when he grappled with Monis, who was carrying a gun. Two of the hostages who were pregnant were uninjured but taken to hospital for "health and welfare purposes", said the statement.
Asked if police stormed the cafe because of something they saw or heard from within the cafe, Commissioner Burn would say only that police acted on an "emergency plan".
"We had in place an emergency action plan. That plan was activated at a particular point in time... the information I have is that shots were heard and an emergency action plan was activated," she said.
"Can I just say I think every single one of those hostages acted courageously."
Sixteen-hour siegeSixteen-hour siege
09:45 Monday local time (22:45 GMT Sunday): Police are called out to the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place, a busy plaza in the heart of the city. Suggestions an armed robbery is under way are soon discounted.09:45 Monday local time (22:45 GMT Sunday): Police are called out to the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place, a busy plaza in the heart of the city. Suggestions an armed robbery is under way are soon discounted.
10:09: Australian TV stations broadcast footage of hostages holding a black Islamic banner up to the window. The gunman can also be seen, wearing a bandana.10:09: Australian TV stations broadcast footage of hostages holding a black Islamic banner up to the window. The gunman can also be seen, wearing a bandana.
12:30: As police flood the area, Prime Minister Tony Abbott goes on national TV to promise a thorough police response to the "deeply concerning incident".12:30: As police flood the area, Prime Minister Tony Abbott goes on national TV to promise a thorough police response to the "deeply concerning incident".
16:00-17:00: Three men, then two women, sprint to safety from the cafe's fire exit.16:00-17:00: Three men, then two women, sprint to safety from the cafe's fire exit.
18:30: Police confirm negotiations are under way with the gunman.18:30: Police confirm negotiations are under way with the gunman.
02:10 Tuesday (15:10 GMT Monday): Several more hostages escape and commandos storm the cafe.02:10 Tuesday (15:10 GMT Monday): Several more hostages escape and commandos storm the cafe.
02:48: Police officially confirm end of siege. They later report the deaths of three people, including the gunman.02:48: Police officially confirm end of siege. They later report the deaths of three people, including the gunman.
How the siege unfolded
Australian media warn against quick conclusionsAustralian media warn against quick conclusions
In pictures: Australians pay tributeIn pictures: Australians pay tribute
'Harmony''Harmony'
An exclusion zone around the crime scene that extends for several city blocks remains in place along with some road closures and road diversions. An exclusion zone remains in place for several blocks around the crime scene along with some road closures and diversions.
Commissioner Burn said a broader police operation, Operation Hammerhead, was now in "full force" and would operate around the clock. Commissioner Burn said a broader police operation, Operation Hammerhead, was now in "full force" and would operate around the clock throughout the holiday season.
NSW Police launched Operation Hammerhead in September, promising more police on Sydney's streets following an alleged terrorist plot to kill a random member of the public. At that time, it was expected to last only a week.NSW Police launched Operation Hammerhead in September, promising more police on Sydney's streets following an alleged terrorist plot to kill a random member of the public. At that time, it was expected to last only a week.
She said Operation Hammerhead would operate over the holiday season to ensure the Sydney community felt safe to go about its business.
"We have been working with the community non-stop over last 24 hours ... all sections of our communities, to make sure we have harmony," she said, adding that Sydney's Islamic leaders had been providing the police with "guidance and assistance"."We have been working with the community non-stop over last 24 hours ... all sections of our communities, to make sure we have harmony," she said, adding that Sydney's Islamic leaders had been providing the police with "guidance and assistance".
Monis was a self-styled Muslim cleric who was born in Iran and sought political asylum in Australia in 1996. Monis was a self-styled Muslim cleric who was born in Iran and sought political asylum in Australia in 1996. He had a history of religiously-inspired activism, but officials say there is as yet no evidence his actions were linked to international Islamist movements.
He was well known to the Australian police and was on bail charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife. He was also facing more than 40 sexual and indecent assault charges.He was well known to the Australian police and was on bail charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife. He was also facing more than 40 sexual and indecent assault charges.
Police will be investigating how Monis got a gun and what his motivations for the siege were. Cmr Burn would not comment on social media posts that had outlined his motivations other than to say "those demands have been put out on social media". During the siege he apparently forced hostages to hold up a flag showing the Islamic creed in the cafe window.
"He was known to police and he was on bail ... his movements will form a part of the investigation," she said. Police will be investigating his movements ahead of the siege and how Monis got a gun. Cmr Burn said police "believe he was unstable".
"This was a man we do believe had some extreme views, we believe he was unstable."
The government has provided a condolence book at Martin Place for the public to sign, and people have been placing flowers in Martin Place in memory of the victims.The government has provided a condolence book at Martin Place for the public to sign, and people have been placing flowers in Martin Place in memory of the victims.
A church service was held at St Mary Cathedral, near the Lindt cafe, on Tuesday to mourn the victims.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the "heart of our city is broken by the deaths of two innocents" and praised the "heroes were willing to lay down their lives so others might live".