PigLick on 15/12/2014 at 02:17
no comfirmation they are isis, they are displaying an islamic faith flag. Taking hostages in a cafe is an odd thing to do for a terrorist, maybe something else was supposed to happen and it went wrong?
Muzman on 15/12/2014 at 02:17
Not ISIS for the sake of it (so far), but possibly a fan. Could be semi random nutters. Which would be nice, in a weird sort of way. Traditionally Post-Al Qaida's method is charge in and make a big ugly mess and go out with a bang. As some guy on ABC said, you'd think they would have done it already if that were the goal. So here's hoping.
ed. Oh snap!
icemann on 15/12/2014 at 03:18
It is odd that they've not shot anyone. Going by prior ISIS behavior to go in guns blazing, shoot first then gloat to the cameras after.
twisty on 15/12/2014 at 04:48
Quote Posted by PigLick
no comfirmation they are isis, they are displaying an islamic faith flag. Taking hostages in a cafe is an odd thing to do for a terrorist, maybe something else was supposed to happen and it went wrong?
True, though the first thing that came to mind when I saw the headlines was that threat that was uncovered earlier this year following the arrest of a would-be terrorist who was instructed by ISIS to behead a random person in Martin's Place. Incidentally, he had been receiving instructions from that (
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/kings-cross-bouncer-mohammad-ali-baryalei-identified-as-senior-isil-recruiter-20140908-10e75m.html) ex-Underbelly ISIS recruitment slob who was killed several months ago.
Pyrian on 15/12/2014 at 05:37
Doubt ISIS is directly involved in this at all (as in, providing any sort of material support - maybe somebody knows somebody who knows somebody, but EVERYBODY knows somebody who knows somebody). They kind of have a full plate, what with battling in Syria and Iraq. They're just the big name of the moment.
Hope everyone's alright at the Lindt café... Wait, Lindt café?
HOLY CRIPES SAVE THE CHOCOLATE!
ZylonBane on 15/12/2014 at 06:45
Really, anyone patronizing the ISIS Cafe should probably expect to be taken hostage.
Thirith on 15/12/2014 at 07:17
Yeah, but the falafel they make? To die for.
Specter on 15/12/2014 at 20:33
The hostage taker was known to police. Wanted for assault and accessory to murder. Self-given religious title. Likely his actions, both today and prior, are somehow justified by his variation of religion.
Two dead besides the hostage taker.
So far it seems that no one is trying to link this clown to a larger movement or group. Taking events like these out of context seems to be a great hobby for many in the government and media. I hope Australians are too smart to go down that road.
heywood on 15/12/2014 at 20:47
Just heard that the cops stormed the place, and 2 hostages were killed and 4 injured in the crossfire.
From what I'm reading, the hostage taker was a "refugee" who fled from Iran to Australia in the 1990s, who changed his name, converted from Shia to Sunni, and became some crazy self-proclaimed sheikh with no significant connections to the local Shia or Sunni communities. Man Haron Monis was also a known criminal with a previous conviction for sending hate mail to families of dead soldiers, who has been charged with being an accessory to murder in the stabbing and torching of his ex-wife, and he has been charged with dozens of sexual assaults. He was free on bail and it sounds like he had nothing to lose.
One of my friends is a barrister who works close to that shop and was freaked out for a while because of early rumors circulating that this might be a plot targeting courts or the legal system somehow. I think everyone will maybe feel a little better knowing it was just a lone nutter trying to go out with a bang, and not an attack planned by ISIS, Al Qaeda, et al.
But I'm sure there will be a lot of people questioning the magistrates who released him on minimal bail.
