Sydney siege: Gunman takes hostages in Lindt cafe

(BBC) At least one gunman has taken several people hostage at a cafe in the Australian city of Sydney.

Pictures on Australian television show at least three people with their hands up against a window, and a black flag with Arabic writing.

Hundreds of armed police have sealed off Martin Place in Sydney's central business district.

New South Wales police have asked people to avoid the area.

An Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter said that gunfire had been heard at the scene, the Lindt chocolate cafe - but this has not been confirmed.

Major landmarks in the city such as the Sydney Opera House have been evacuated.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has described the incident as "deeply concerning" in a statement.

"All Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner," he said.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30473983


-- BBC 2014-12-15

This could turn ugly... (more ugly that is)..... Good luck to the hostages !

Will be interesting to see how the alleged 'Jihadists' react from this point forward, and whether either of them walk out of that shop in one piece. The cops need to take the gloves off with these deluded IS-types - esp when they turn their back on the country they were born in.

http://www.news.com.au/national/a-man-is-holding-several-people-hostage-at-martin-place-cafe/story-fncynjr2-1227156241649

CNN saying that widespread government raids are also taking place around the city. But, then, that's CNN. Who knows.

LIVE http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/hostages-sydney-cafe-martin-place-police-operation/5967232

Key points:

• Heavily armed police have taken position around the Lindt cafe in central Sydney
• Hostages have been seen inside the cafe with their hands in the air
• Black flag with white Arabic writing reading "There is no God but Allah" and "Mohammed is the messenger of God" waved behind the hostages
• Martin Place and Sydney Opera House have been evacuated
• National Security Committee of Cabinet has convened; Prime Minister Tony Abbott described incident as "deeply concerning" and offered NSW all assistance possible.

BUT don't forget this is not a terrorist attack..... that would be too anti PC.... <deleted>

Oz

CNN saying that widespread government raids are also taking place around the city. But, then, that's CNN. Who knows.

There were anti terror raids in Sydney this AM, one person arrested.

Religion of peace

Damn if this is a confirmed terrorist attack ...bloody idiots of ISIS

I am heading there for work next month and I can already imagine the airport security ....

Damn if this is a confirmed terrorist attack ...bloody idiots of ISIS

I am heading there for work next month and I can already imagine the airport security ....

So sorry to hear of your potential inconvenience. Glad to see your priorities are in the right place.

The problem or I guess the scary thing is the jihadist is happy to die in the name of God .

I am afraid the game now is how many hostages can be saved not how to save them.

<deleted>

Oz

Whilst emotive at the moment (before you head on in my sister and her family live in Sydney so I am attached too) please remember that there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and only 1 or 2 in that coffee shop.

Obama has already been on the phone to Abbott and has offered his people as advisors to Australia. I think we are already qualified in Aust and can take it from here. Advice taken and we will get back to you.

Apparently the U.S Consulate building is close by where this incident is happening

Edited December 15, 201411 yr by chooka

Whilst emotive at the moment (before you head on in my sister and her family live in Sydney so I am attached too) please remember that there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and only 1 or 2 in that coffee shop.

The difference being that relatively few of the 1.6 billion had access to that area of Sydney. What happens as more and more of the 1.6 billion, through immigration, get easy access to Sydney and other soft targets worldwide?

There are also 3.4 billion Chinese, but I don't see them waving flags and taking hostages..... in fact when they did we opposed them as well.

Oz

A couple of mouthpieces should now fill their mouths with large slices of humble pie.

With the exception of Simple1, who naturally ignored the hostage incident completely, the board's resident Islamists have been strangely silent. I guess they can't type, what with their fingers being used to stuff their faces full of that 'humble pie'.

Let's hope the hostages avoid the usual fate of ISIS captives. If the hostage takers in this incident are homegrown terrorists, I wonder whether we'll be hearing the usual excuses of how they've been disenfranchised and have been on the receiving end of racial epithets which are all responsible for their radicalization?

How many other capital cities will suffer the same fate as Sydney?

Whilst emotive at the moment (before you head on in my sister and her family live in Sydney so I am attached too) please remember that there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and only 1 or 2 in that coffee shop.

How many millions of Muslims around the world support what they are doing in Sydney?

probably easier to ask how many are condemning it, probably 2 at the most. It is a sin to speak out against Islam.

If the hostage takers in this incident are homegrown terrorists, I wonder whether we'll be hearing the usual excuses of how they've been disenfranchised and have been on the receiving end of racial epithets which are all responsible for their radicalization?

Whether they are homegrown or otherwise.

I hope the only thing they hear is a volley of shots before being sent to meet their virgins.

Damn if this is a confirmed terrorist attack ...bloody idiots of ISIS

I am heading there for work next month and I can already imagine the airport security ....

So sorry to hear of your potential inconvenience. Glad to see your priorities are in the right place.

I don't mean any disrespect to the 13 held hostage or their families

When you travel 11 months on the road and you seen the amount of coverage of ISIS

You get pissed ...with ISIS and whichever these nutbags are .... They are just idiots that ought to be dealt with harshly and every govt should stop negotiating with them and give them hell

No-one has the balls to call it a terrorist act. The politically correct BS reporting on the BBC right now is nauseating.

Just been reported on aus news that as many 50 could be held hostage.

No-one has the balls to call it a terrorist act. The politically correct BS reporting on the BBC right now is nauseating.

Yea, right now, the BBC broadcast is worried about a "backlash" against "racial minorities." Same BBC guy just reported that the police are "holding some kind of rifle." This guy might do well at the diversity seminar, but I don't think he has ever been in any situation more dangerous than his studio make-up room.

The latest International report I've seen says 13-40 hostages, but local news stations might be more clued in.

It is worth noting that Lindt are one of the few companies in Australia who have refused to bow to the Halal branding cartel in Australia. Possibly a reason for this business being targeted.

Edited December 15, 201411 yr by canman

Yeah.

And this image just sums up Islam for me. The black ISIS flag above a Christmas greeting.

Hostages held inside Sydney cafe, Islamic flag held up

SYDNEY (AFP) - Terrified hostages cowered inside a cafe in central Sydney Monday with an Islamic flag displayed against a window, sparking a security lockdown in an area home to government and corporate headquarters.

Martin Place was evacuated as scores of armed police surrounded the Lindt chocolate cafe, with TV pictures showing a flag -- black with white Arabic writing-- held to a window by customers.

It appears to be the shahada, or profession of faith in Islam, and says: "There is no god but Allah; Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah."

Adding to the unfolding drama, the nearby Sydney Opera House was also cleared by police, apparently over a suspicious package. It was not clear if the two incidents were related.

Australia has been on high alert after the government raised concerns that citizens who have fought alongside jihadists in Iraq and Syria could return home radicalised and capable of carrying out attacks.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott convened a national security meeting to deal with the "disturbing" developments, suggesting only one person was responsible for the Lindt cafe incident.

"We don’t yet know the motivation of the perpetrator, we don’t know whether this is politically motivated although obviously there are some indications that it could be," he said.

"The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves.

"Australia is a peaceful, open, and generous society. Nothing should ever change that and that’s why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual," he added.

Reports said anywhere between a dozen and 50 people were in the Lindt cafe.

Several were seen with their arms in the air.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Hostages-held-inside-Sydney-cafe-Islamic-flag-held-30249849.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-15

More culture enrichment from the usual suspects, who brought us 5000 murders in November. Let's wait for the liberals to come to the rescue by playing interference.

"We don’t yet know the motivation of the perpetrator," - Abbott

Clueless,huh?

Yeah.

And this image just sums up Islam for me. The black ISIS flag above a Christmas greeting.

where is the ISIS flag, is it behind the shahada flag ?

I have seen pictures where there has been a clear head shot of these 2 muppets. Why did the snipers not take them out ?

What was on the flag, we are so gay?

Yeah.

And this image just sums up Islam for me. The black ISIS flag above a Christmas greeting.

where is the ISIS flag, is it behind the shahada flag ?

I have seen pictures where there has been a clear head shot of these 2 muppets. Why did the snipers not take them out ?

Lucky they didn't take the 2 of them out. All the news is that there is only 1 of them.