MUSLIM EXTREMIST SIEGE IN SYDNEY

We provide as a comment the Sydney Muslim siege affair.

NATIONAL BREAKING NEWS - channel 7 news helicopters flying overhead
Siege at Sydney's Martin Place cafe
Tania Rollinson - Australia First Party
DECEMBER 15, 2014 10:46AM
HOSTAGES are being held inside a cafe in Sydney's Martin Place.
THE faces of customers and workers have been seen pressed up against a shop
window of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe.
An Islamic flag - black with white writing on it - has been held up to the glass.
In a chilling drama unfolding in the city centre, Martin Place has been shut
down and scores of police are surrounding the cafe.
Workers in nearby buildings, including the Seven Network, have been ordered
to evacuate the area.
NSW government offices, including Premier Mike Baird's, are also in the vicinity.
Two women, whose faces are pressed up against the window, appear to be
holding up the flag.
Police have closed off Martin Place between Macquarie and Elizabeth Streets,
and Martin Place train station has been cleared.
Police have cordoned off the area to about 150m and a special police
operations unit is outside the building.
Media reports suggest there may be up to a dozen hostages inside the cafe.
Journalist Chris Kenny, who was in the shop about 20 minutes before the siege
began, said he understood the automatic glass sliding doors had been disabled.
"I did speak to a couple of people who saw a bit more of this unfold than I
did," he said.
"One woman said she tried to go into the shop just after I came out with my
takeaway coffee but the doors wouldn't open.
"So obviously whoever is doing this has disabled the automatic glass sliding
doors to stop anyone else going in and she said immediately she could see
there was a weapon.
"She mentioned it being taken out of a blue bag and people were straight away
asked to put up their hands."
Mr Baird's office has been locked down.
Tania Rollinson - Australia First Party.


11.13am: An exclusiion zone has been placed around the Sydney Opera House
after a suspicious package was found there.
11.12am: Seven is reporting that 13 people are inside the cafe, being held
hostage by two men.
11.11am: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
- An unconfirmed number of hostages are being held inside the Lindt Chocolat
Café in Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD.
- Hostages have been forced to hold an Islamic flag with white writing on it
against the window of the cafe.
- Workers in nearby buildings, including the Seven Network and the NSW
government building, have been ordered to evacuate the area.
- Police have cordoned off the area to about 150m.
11.10am: Airservices Australia has just said that airspace had not been
closed over Sydney..
11.03am: Aaron Zelin, an Islamic expert in Washington, has tweeted
clarification about the flag in the Lindt window.
This is flag currently held in Sydney window, a garden-variety Islamist flag.
Therefore, doesn’t tell us anything yet
10:47 AM - 15 Dec 2014
11.00am: There is speculation that the operation around Martin Place may be a
terror-related. Earlier today, two people were arrested on suspected terror
offences in north west Sydney.
10.58am: Steve Creedy writes: The Australian has been told that airspace
above Sydney CBD has been closed so that police helicopters can operate.
There may be disruption to aircraft operating into and out of Sydney Airport.
10.57am: Chris Kenny said he understood the automatic glass sliding doors had
been disabled.
“I did speak to a couple of people who saw a bit more of this unfold than I
did,” he said.
“One woman said she tried to go into the shop just after I came out with my
takeaway coffee but the doors wouldn’t open.
“So obviously whoever is doing this has disabled the automatic glass sliding
doors to stop anyone else going in and she said immediately she could see
there was a weapon.
“She mentioned it being taken out of a blue bag and people were straight away
asked to put up their hands.”
NSW Premier Mike Baird’s office has been locked down.
10.51am:Mark Schliebs clarifies the identity of the flag. He writes: The flag
at Martin Place appears to a generic “Shahada” flag - featuring the
expression of the Islamic faith - and not the one commonly used by Islamic State.
The use Shahada flag, and not one of a specific organisation, means the
gunmen could be sympathetic to any group or are simply acting as individuals.
10.50am: Channel 7 is reporting that the man may also be carrying explosives.
10.47am: Good point made by The Australian’s Mark Coultan..
Lindt cafe is opposite not just Channel 7 city studios but NSW government
building.
10:34 AM - 15 Dec 2014
10.41am: A hostage has been forced to hold the Islamic flag against the
window. Meanwhile public transport has been disrupted with Martin Place
station closed.
10.38am: The Australian’s Chris Kenny had only just exited the cafe when the
siege began.
Police guns drawn. Crowds pushed further back. All unfolding directly across
from 7 newsroom. Frightening. Up to dozen people inside.
10:09 AM - 15 Dec 2014
10.31am: A woman who was about to enter the cafe said she had seen a man …..