Hostage Situation in Sydney, Australia. Islamic Flag flown at scene

This is an interesting response by Uber:

http://mashable.com/2014/12/14/uber-sydney-surge-pricing/

 

The police urge media not to speculate and wait for facts.

Media: nothing but speculation. lulz. Love the sensationalism.

Took the day off today. Usually work a hundred metres away from Martin Place.

 

thoughts and prayers to the hostages and there families.

 

I'm in Katy. Do I need to evacuate?

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Gunman's headband reads, &quot;We are your soldiers O Muhammad&quot;.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MartinPlace?src=hash">#MartinPlace</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SydneySiege?src=hash">#SydneySiege</a> <a href="http://t.co/ggUgP4kV9c">pic.twitter.com/ggUgP4kV9c</a></p>&mdash; Prince Khattab (@princekhattab) <a href="https://twitter.com/princekhattab/status/544333764814323713">December 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Religion of peace

 

There are mad men in every creed or religion who distort the teachings of their school for violence.

People need to separate judgement from these extremists and the good people who follow the religion

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>BREAKING: 3 people seen running from the besieged <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LindtCafeSiege?src=hash">#LindtCafeSiege</a> in Martin Place, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SydneySiege?src=hash">#SydneySiege</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC">@ABC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/msnbc">@msnbc</a> <a href="http://t.co/muHwKBC3t2">pic.twitter.com/muHwKBC3t2</a></p>&mdash; Meghan Stabler (@MeghanStabler) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghanStabler/status/544351836250333184">December 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Luckily, this online community has Hakeem Olajuwon as a model of "good people", but given current trends and even survey results, we can't blame people for getting a bit jaded.

This thread is about the hostage situation itself, and we technically don't know what's up with the idiots/animals/asshats who have taken the hostages. (To say nothing of making some hostages run in daylight wearing khakis and navy blazers... the cruel, cruel bastards).

 

http://www.9news.com.au/National/2014/12/15/10/00/Major-police-operation-in-Sydneys-Martin-Place

live stream coverage

 

To be fair, it does seem to spawn the more harmful type of extremists...

 

You haven't left already? Did you miss the general call???

 

supposedly the hostage taker has said that he has devices all over the city.

 

Unfortunately, this is the only religion currently that has enough crazy people to have a full fledged army big enough to take over countries.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>UPDATE: 5 of 20 <a class="hashtag" action="hash" title="#sydneysiege">#sydneysiege</a> hostages leave as standoff enters 12th hour, @<a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews">CBSNews</a> rpts: <a href="http://t.co/hFNthL2qpl" title="http://cbsn.ws/13pfdB0">cbsn.ws/13pfdB0</a> <a href="http://t.co/YvH2ydMbH8" title="http://twitter.com/CBSEveningNews/status/544390780736241664/photo/1">pic.twitter.com/YvH2ydMbH8</a></p>&mdash; Mark Albert (@malbertnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/malbertnews/status/544459621755547649" data-datetime="2014-12-15T11:51:04+00:00">December 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
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It's obviously too early to tell but it sounds like this might be a lone wolf. From what I saw on the news this morning they are saying that the hostage taker had been known to Australian authorities and if they had felt that he had been really tied into ISIS or some other terrorists group that he probably would've been taken in already.

It sounds like the authorities are planning on waiting him out since they don't think he is tied to something bigger and don't want to endanger the hostages more on a a risky rescue.

 

umm, yeah I think this line of reasoning is wearing thin at this point.

 

Man Haron Monis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Haron


That is the name of this POS scum bag. Hope snipers do their job.

 

I don't understand why they haven't. I guess the bomb threat because a first floor window glass won't do much to a bullet at that range. If they can get a camera on him they can shoot him.