UPDATED: Police Storm Sydney Cafe, End Hostage Crisis
Sydney police have ended a 16-hour long hostage crisis by storming a cafe where dozens of hostages were being held by a madman.
Above, NBC News video.
Gawker offered this account of the gunman some describe as a terrorist:
Police have identified the man behind the on-going siege in Sydney as Man Haron Monis, a self-proclaimed cleric and former “spiritual healer” granted political asylum in Australia from Iran. Monis was recently charged with 50 counts of indecent exposure and sexual assault, and as an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, who was stabbed and lit on fire in Sydney last year. He was also convicted of sending offensive letters to the family members of dead Australian soldiers.
More details and images via Twitter:
The #SydneySiege is over with 2 people reported dead and 3 in serious condition: http://t.co/QL7EF5DztKpic.twitter.com/XNlMl9Knji
— CNN (@CNN) December 15, 2014
Two killed as #SydneySiege ends – including alleged hostage-taker – Australia media reports say http://t.co/LKbGjrWRS7
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 15, 2014
#SYDNEYSIEGE: Police storming #Lindt Cafe, paramedics on scene http://t.co/kJdiVv0nB9 pic.twitter.com/Ny7rYKuH2g
— RT (@RT_com) December 15, 2014
#SydneySiege: Latest video of hostages escaping. https://t.co/eFfgSbt2hO
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 15, 2014
Hostages seen fleeing from cafe at centre of #SydneySiege moments ago http://t.co/nM2pss0I9d pic.twitter.com/MXGOxDGdwv
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 15, 2014
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UPDATE:
BREAKING NEWS: A THIRD PERSON HAS DIED AFTER THE SIEGE IN SYDNEY. 7 NEWS
— PzFeed Top News (@PzFeed) December 15, 2014
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Image: Screenshot NBC News
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