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Go away for a couple of hours (to see one's horses) and see what happens!
Does anyone imagine that if Tony Dumb Dumb hadn't taken such a prominent role in supporting the Empire that this would have happened in Australia.
What a clever man - Tony Abbott!
Now, we can just wait for John Key to do the same for New Zealand.
In the meantime ISIS have thanked the US for the golden opportunity (Camp Bucca) for jihadists to meet and build a new organisation.
I can't help but think that this is a heaven-sent situation for our superiors to clamp down and try to maintain their own power against greater odds.
A very ugly day for this part of the world.
Islamist
militants take hostages in Sydney cafe, display black jihadist flag
A
police operation is underway at a café in the center of Sydney,
where hostages are being held by unknown attackers and a black
jihadist flag can be seen. It comes amid Australia’s backing of the
US-led operation against the Islamic State.
15
December, 2014
A
police operation is underway at a café in the center of Sydney,
where hostages are being held by unknown attackers and a black
jihadist flag can be seen. It comes amid Australia’s backing of the
US-led operation against the Islamic State.
At
least 13 hostages are believed to be held inside the café. There was
no immediate confirmation of the exact number of assailants.
The
area surrounding the cafe has been sealed off by armed police, and
Australian authorities have cleared airspace over central Sydney to
make way for police helicopters.
“A
police operation is underway in Martin Place, Sydney’s CBD. People
are advised to avoid the area,” New South Wales (NSW) police
tweeted.
Meanwhile,
live TV footage showed people standing inside a café with their
hands pressed against the windows. At least one of the attackers was
caught on camera wearing a traditional Islamic cap.
The
hostages were forced to hold a black flag with an Arabic inscription,
prompting fears that ruthless Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL)
militants were behind the attack.
Dozens
of police, including a SWAT team, were dispatched to the scene, and a
couple hundred people were held back by cordons amid the evacuation
of nearby buildings.
The
flag – which appeared different from the one typically used by ISIS
– was identified as the shahada, or the statement of Islamic faith.
The shahada itself contains religious inscription “There is no god
but the God, Muhammad is the messenger of the God.” However, it has
been used by various jihadi groups over the years.
The
gunmen’s attack, which took place in Sydney’s central business
district, forced nearby buildings in Martin Place – including the
Reserve Bank of Australia – to go on lockdown.
Soon
after news of the hostage situation emerged, Sydney’s iconic Opera
House was also evacuated. The move was reportedly prompted by a
suspicious package found inside the building.
Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott called the situation “deeply
concerning,” adding that everything is being done to respond to the
incident.
“This
is obviously a deeply concerning incident but 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,” Abbott said in a statement.
He
added that the National Security Committee of Cabinet is currently
being briefed on the situation. The prime minister has spoken to NSW
Premier Mike Baird, offering him all possible Commonwealth support
and assistance.
DETAILS
TO FOLLOW
The exclusion zone
Police near the site of a siege in Lindt cafe, Martin Pace
Like Pagehttp://www.thehits.co.nz/breaking-news/breaking-terrorists-holding-hostages-in-sydney/
KEY
POINTS:
•
Armed men walked into
the Lindt café in Sydney's Martin Place at 9.45am (11.45am NZT)
•
More than a dozen
people including staff and customers are being held hostage
•
Reports that
hostage-taker has a shotgun and possibly an explosive device
•
Heavily armed police
have sealed off area around the café
•
Martin Place station
is currently closed and buses have been diverted
•
The Opera House has
been evacuated after reports of a 'suspicious device'
•
TV stations in
Melbourne have gone into lockdown with extra security in response to
the siege in Sydney.
•
Tony Abbott has
described the hostage situation as extremely concerning with security
meetings and briefings underway.
•
The NSW joint counter
terrorism team arrested two men in north west Sydney on Monday
morning.
There are unconfirmed reports that one of the hostage-takers has made contact with police saying that he has 'devices all over the city' and 'wants to speak with the prime minister live on radio', according to Ray Hadley, from 2GB.
Up to two gunmen are believed to be involved in the siege but dozens of armed police have sealed off the streets surrounding the site.
One gunman is believed to have a shotgun and possibly an explosive device.
Up to two gunmen are believed to be involved in the siege but dozens of armed police have sealed off the streets surrounding the site.
One gunman is believed to have a shotgun and possibly an explosive device.
The incident began just hours after a 25-year-old suspect was arrested in a terror raid in Sydney.
Officials have also evacuated the Opera House after reports of a suspicious device.
A reporter for the newspaper at the scene said a man who appeared to be a priest was escorted into the cafe.
9 News reported one witness said: "Everyone was sitting down, the door was locked. There was one guy walking around with a hat and a beard."
Martin Place has been shut down and scores of police are surrounding the building after the alarm was raised about 9.45am (11.45am NZT).
An Islamic flag - black with white writing on it - has been held up to the glass.
The Seven Network newsroom, which is in a building opposite the cafe, has also been evacuated.
Nathan Grivas, who works at Lindt Cafe, told the Guardian Australia that he arrived for work shortly after the siege started.
"It was already locked [when I got there]," he said. "I didn't get a good look at them. As soon as I saw the gun all I wanted to do was get out."
One of the hostages had looked at him, he said. He also saw one of his colleagues pressed up against a window.
"Luckily I didn't start at 9am today. Hopefully they'll be ok."
NSW police have issued a statement saying they are dealing with "an armed incident, and specialist officers are attempting to make contact with those inside a cafe".
"Some nearby offices have been evacuated as a precaution. Anyone else in the area encompassing Hunter, George, Elizabeth and Macquarie streets bordering Martin Place is directed to remain indoors and away from open windows," the statement said.
"Anyone in the vicinity but outside that area is free to leave their buildings.
"Police urge members of the public to remain calm and note that an appropriate police presence is in place."
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott released a statement saying the siege was "deeply concerning" and the National Security Committee had convened for briefings.
"New South Wales Police and the Australian Federal Police are currently responding to a reported hostage-taking incident in Martin Place in Sydney."
Mr Abbott said he had spoken with NSW Premier Mike Baird and offered him "all possible" Commonwealth support and assistance.
The National Security Committee of Cabinet had also convened for briefings on the situation.
"This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but 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."
"New South Wales Police and the Australian Federal Police are currently responding to a reported hostage-taking incident in Martin Place in Sydney."
Mr Abbott said he had spoken with NSW Premier Mike Baird and offered him "all possible" Commonwealth support and assistance.
The National Security Committee of Cabinet had also convened for briefings on the situation.
"This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but 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."
The black and white flag in the Sydney cafe featured the shahada, the statement of Islamic faith reading in Arabic, “There is no god but the God, Muhammad is the messenger of the God.”
The Seven Network newsroom, which is in a building opposite the cafe, has also been evacuated.
The Seven Network newsroom, which is in a building opposite the cafe, has also been evacuated.
There are reports that the police have been taken inside the Channel 7 building and "are most likely in surrounding building to gain a better POV".
"Police are assuming the gunmen could be carrying explosives in a backpack but this is still unconfirmed," Joel McKay, who appears to be live tweeting the incident, posted.
Mia Burns, a news producer for Seven, tweeted: 'Hostages against the glass of Lindt café. Some are shaking and sobbing.'
Seven Network staff are sheltering inside the media company's Martin Place headquarters.
"Police are assuming the gunmen could be carrying explosives in a backpack but this is still unconfirmed," Joel McKay, who appears to be live tweeting the incident, posted.
Mia Burns, a news producer for Seven, tweeted: 'Hostages against the glass of Lindt café. Some are shaking and sobbing.'
Seven Network staff are sheltering inside the media company's Martin Place headquarters.
Police arrest suspect over alleged terrorism offences in Sydney raid
One
man charged after raids in north-western Sydney
14 December, 2014
A
25-year-old man has been arrested for alleged financing of terrorism
in Sydney’s north-west.
The
Beecroft man was arrested on Monday morning “as part of continuing
investigations into the planning of a terrorist attack on Australian
soil and the facilitation of travel of Australian citizens to Syria
to engage in armed combat,” the Australian Federal Police said in a
statement.
A
home in Beecroft was raided
in September as part of the largest counter-terror operation
in Australian history in September. It is understood the two raids
are connected.
A
press conference was due to be held at 11am AEDT but was delayed
after news broke of the siege
in the centre of Sydney.
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