Breaking News: Hostages taken in Sydney

spookywillow · 15 Dec 2014 at 06:05

BBC news just said they were holding up an ISIS flag, 3 people also ran off and escaped

Azza · 15 Dec 2014 at 06:30

I know people find Lindt a bit off because of the price - quality thing but this is a bit over the top. Just go for Green and Blacks if you're that bothered rather than an act of terrorism.

Tefal · 15 Dec 2014 at 06:32

nemtizz said:
lol

Why lol?

They've used phones as detonators for a long time and these groups really don't want their maytrs deciding not to go through with it.

Makes sense to have a back up plan incase they decide not to go through with it especially as they could provide intelligence to the police etc regarding any training camps/who recruited them.

OhEsEcks · 15 Dec 2014 at 06:48

spookywillow said:
3 people also ran off and escaped

Good. If they've escaped from inside the shop, it'll mean the cops will now know exactly what they're dealing with. 2 more apparently out now as well.

Danthus · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:24

Tefal said:
I imagine their "handler" further up the chain will have the phone number for the detonator in cause they chicken out.

Why haven't they shut down the phone masts? One hostage has text him mum!

I am also surprised the Australian police have just let the escaping hostages run towards them without searching them.

The gunman has demanded to speak to the Australian PM and wants a flag delivered to him.

Hyburnate · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:26

Probably lone wolf, just take him out.

Cosimo · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:26

Fingers crossed that all the hostages come out of this alive.

SteveOBHave · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:27

spookywillow said:
BBC news just said they were holding up an ISIS flag, 3 people also ran off and escaped

Not an ISIS flag...

Cosimo · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:37

SteveOBHave said:
Not an ISIS flag...

Apparently is says "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God.". Whatever it is it's not good.

The gunman has apparently agreed to release one hostage if an IS flag is delivered to the prime minister.

Danthus · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:37

This bears all the hallmarks of a false flag operation.

/lights touch paper.

Uther · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:39

Sick world we live in.

OhEsEcks · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:41

Cosimo said:
Apparently is says "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God.". Whatever it is it's not good.

The gunman has apparently agreed to release one hostage if an IS flag is delivered to the prime minister.

It's an Al Nusra flag apparently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Nusra_Front

Cosimo · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:49

Live link from ABC News (Australia) 24 Live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvzpSvyyZis

Azza · 15 Dec 2014 at 07:55

OhEsEcks said:
It's an Al Nusra flag apparently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Nusra_Front

It's just a general Shahada flag.

Freefaller · 15 Dec 2014 at 08:00

PanMaster said:
Hopefully this will strengthen anti-muslim movements in the EU as well as in Australia.

What a daft thing to say.

We're due in Sydney in 5 days, I imagine this is going to be extensively talked about whilst we're there.

I just hope it ends without violence or injury.

deuse · 15 Dec 2014 at 08:02

I hope everyone survives this.

Von Smallhausen · 15 Dec 2014 at 08:04

FinglisHobbit said:
It's worrying stuff. Chances are the coward will have an explosive device or he will be killed in the event. An easy way out for him. Makes me sick. People who do this kinda thing deserve torture then slow painful death imo.

That's my worry.

mike gunnz · 15 Dec 2014 at 08:10

Ephemera said:
Honestly I'm surprised this has happened in Australia seeing as I've always thought of it being a fairly neutral country, kinda like Canada.

Both pro western liberal democracies who've played an active role in the "war on terror" for over a decade.

Both commonwealth states closely aligned with Britain. They're anything but neutral.

SteveOBHave · 15 Dec 2014 at 08:10

The thing is that first thing in the morning he had the Channel 7 cameras on him, the USA awake and watching TV and he didn't do squat. It's going on 10hrs now and people have been escaping. At the risk of making uneducated observations but he seems to have missed his major opportunities and is now deciding if he wants to live or not. It doesn't seem to bear the hallmarks of a terror incident. It's not fast, it's not terribly demonstrative and there isn't a shed load of damage... of course early days yet.

SteveOBHave · 15 Dec 2014 at 08:12

mike gunnz said:
Both pro western liberal democracies who've played an active role in the war on terror for over a decade.

Both commonwealth states closely aligned with Britain. They're anything but neutral.

Nope - Tony Abbot is Australias answer to George Bush - he's an asshat of the worst order and is more interested in leaving his name in the history books than doing the right thing. He's not a good person.