Australia, ISIS, hostages

[Theredandthewhite]

What the bloody hell is going on? Poor people

Fingers crossed they all leave unharmed

I saw this as I was about to go to sleep around 23.45 last night, as I was checking the DM

Was (naively?) thinking that Australia would be the last place you'd think that something like this could happen.

Really hoping that all the hostages get out alive & unharmed!

Police have made contact with the armed offender, who is holding an undisclosed number of hostages According to ABC news

Yep DM still not pixelating any faces. Just trying wring every ounce of voyeurism they can.

"Was (naively?) thinking that Australia would be the last place you'd think that something like this could happen."

Erm, you aren't the only one Turquoise, and I live here. I work in the CBD, near Martin Place, but was sent on a training course, so wasn't in the city when it all happened. We were told "Don't come back into the office, go home."

Its all that's in the news here.

Can happen anywhere.

My Facebook is now full of fucking stupid people railing against Islam.

Because that is exactly what we need right now. Some vigilante/riot action.

So many Australians seem to think we live in a safe bubble still. But our distance doesn't matter anymore.

I live in London and this is the sort of thing my friends & have discussed as a not if, but when something like that will occur here.

Sydney/Australia would so not have been on the list of possible places.

Seriously scary stuff...not even turned on the TV yet today.

It's good to hear that more hostages have made their way out.

I hope that this gives information that helps end the siege (and doesn't cause hostage takers to conclude they are losing control and thus precipitate action from them.

Australia has been involved eagerly in Afghanistan and all the Iraqui interventions. We have a large population of second generation Muslims with origins from across the world. There are about 70 young Australians fighting for Isis in Syria at the moment. Since 9/11 I have often thought something could happen in Sydney or Melbourne and apparently there have been a number of plots foiled.

Horrified to hear that some people are standing around near the siege area taking selfies.

I don't think anyone can get within about 500m of the cafe, so any pictures would have to be by cordons at some distance.

Here's a background piece from BBC called "Who are Australia's radicalised Muslims?"

With any luck the terrorist will realise he has no escape and give up or shoot himself.

How terrifying, I didn't want to check the news this morning.

'vigilante/riot action' is exactly the response these islamist groups want. Random acts of terror like this are designed to provoke retaliation as much as fear. Social division suits their aims. With neo-nazis masquerading as mainstream political parties on the rise, feeding xenophobia in their own sly way, the terrorists are pushing on an open door.

If he is associated with an extremist group, or is a lone wolf who closely identifies with such a group, then he may well be expecting to die (even welcoming it). That is not a strong point for the well-being of the hostages.

I feel the rage, I just know it is going to be the wrong people who pay for this and that makes me even angrier.

We all want him shot like the dog he is, but not at the cost of their lives and as I assume the AFP are not the types to hesitate I am just going to hope they know what they are doing.

I mean what possible objection could anyone have to a chocolate shop?

Aside from the very strategic position in the middle of some very important business and government departments, there has been some discussion about Lindt refusing to halal certify their products.

My Facebook is also rife with anger and threats aimed at muslims worldwide. I fear that it will be ordinary peace living muslims who will be paying the price for this monster.

Sky news reporting another hostage had escaped . I couldn't sleep a wink last night.

it's possible that an ordinary coffee shop might be the target precisely because it is ordinary.

I agree with Auntie. They are trying to scare normal everyday people.

Five escaped now, good on them

Less than a week ago I was in a hospital right near Martin place. My husband & daughter went into the Lindt Cafe to buy me chocolates before one of their visits. Dh walked through there every day for two weeks visiting. So glad I was home but feel so worried for the poor people involved. Watching the news here there have been a lot of conflicting reports from the different news channels

It's common in a terrorist situation for mobile phone signals in the immediate area to be stopped. It's to limit the ability of the terrorists to communicate with each other. Especially at first when no one knows how many there are, or where!

If it's just one man with a gun I should think the cafe was easy to suss out in advance and also unlikely to have security/metal detectors etc, unlike the official buildings nearby.

My BFs son has been in Sydney a week. I want to ask her if she's heard from him, if he's okay but I'm wary of seeming nosy/voyeuristic (which is stupid I know)

If he's on his own he must be getting tired. Poor people

'I fear that it will be ordinary peace living muslims who will be paying the price for this monster. '

No the people paying the price for this man's actions are the hostages.

I'm in Sydney (out of CBD though), been watching the Guardian newsfeed all day. :-( My friend's office was directly opposite, she said she could see the hostages faces and they looked terrified. My other friend's office is not so near, but her 2yo's daycare was, and was on lockdown.
We have all been expecting something for a while, particularly in the last few months after a series of raids. It's truly scary.

Yes, the Daily Mail are the enemy in all of this.

jesus, get some fucking perspective.