Australia, ISIS, hostages

[Theredandthewhite]

What the bloody hell is going on? Poor people

Fingers crossed they all leave unharmed

Poor, poor people. Hope to god it doesn't end in tragedy.

Nancy, it's just respectful to pixalate faces.

These poor people have no choice in what is happening to them, why can't the DM be respectful of that?

different - everyone has printed their faces. their families are naming them and talking to the media. it's all over twitter. their identities are known. they have bigger worries right now.

Nancy, the DM get slated because they make news into entertainment.

Look on their front page now. A story about how a woman might of moved her thumb across her neck in a cutting motion and might have been made to do it by the terrorist.

Based on a shadowy picture of nothing.

Again, that story features in plenty of other places and comes directly from an Australian news report. I just read it on The Independent website and The Times.

Seems people use the DM as their main source of information and then slag them off.

I hope that the people that cme out are ok and they can give the police some clarity as to how many gunmen and hostages there are.

My thoughts go out to all involved, including the police dealing with it.

so it seems the 5 released hostages just made a run for it - unbelievably brave of them.

so it seems the 5 released hostages just made a run for it - unbelievably brave of them.

Except the media still do not know that, or have not released that information.

There has just been a police press conference. It gave assurances that they have the very best people working on a resolution and the priority is to get the hostages out safely.

They have confirmed that it is a single location incident, have asked people to stay away from the area, including telling people who work nearby to stay away tomorrow as well - it's evening now in Sydney - but that everyone else should carry on with their lives normally.

you know what I've really changed my mind on these issues. Its 2014, we live in a messed up world. I think now we should see true unadulterated images as much as possible - we can no longer bury our heads in the sands to distasteful things happening to other people. I think people should see the realities of terrorism and what it does to ordinary people (adults only) as maybe then there will be more will to address the issues, rather than letting things continue for years (NI, Palestine) and pretend its not hapenning.

I don't think we need to see unadulterated pictures of violence to know it is happening.

We know the realities.

Why 'just adults'??

I don't think children should see graphic images do you?

I don't think I did know the realities until the days of social media and rolling news coverage

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 fear the same.

#illridewithyou messages on twitter are making me well up.

This. Just this.
twitter.com/lizibrown/status/544435660468125696?s=17

I hate that sort of twee shit.

It stems from someone offering to ride with people in religious attire who don't feel safe on public transport given the ire currently directed, incorrectly!, at the Muslim community. How is that twee?

that tweet you posted was just meaningless, sentimental drivel. Like those people on FB constantly posting what they think are life affirming quotes and 'the meaning of true friendship' bollocks.

Sorry but I hate when terrible situations are reduced to attention seeking sound bites and hashtags.

The outpouring of Islamophobia is insane at the moment. Facebook is full of wankers right now.
Certain news agencies were reporting what the tac response police officers were doing....good way to ensure everyone's safety
Lindt is the only chocolate producer in Australia that refuses to be one Halal certified. This is the reason for the situation it is believed.
I just hope we don't have another 'Cronulla riots'.

I hope that either he gives himself up or that the police or hostages manage to overpower him.

Surely if there's 40 of them and one of him he can't keep a close eye on all of them indefinitely? The gunman is going to get tired soon??

He has a vest (body warmer) and backpack on so it looks like there is a bomb threat. The police are keeping things very close to their chest, as they should, so there is not that much known about the situation.
It's getting late here and I really need to go to bed, but can't stop watching :(