Hostage Crisis in Australia

[H. Ross Peron]

http://www.theage.com.au/nsw/police-clear-martin-place-after-gunman-holds-hostages-at-lindt-chocolat-cafe-20141215-127824.html

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Horrific

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

There is an awful, awful lot of information that we don't have yet, and probably won't until this ends.

The number of hostages being held is ranging from 13 to 50, number of hostage-takers from 1-3... also suggestions that this was an 'accidental siege' ... knowing that area well and having gone to that cafe a number of times, it wouldn't shock me if the number of those held is somewhere toward the higher end.

I've been checking-in with friends who work in the area and everyone is either in lock-down in their offices or have been evacuated away from the scene.

[ilikeverin]

It does seem pretty noteworthy that we haven't heard anything from the hostage-takers yet even despite their central location.  They're across the street from a news station and still haven't said anything.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

It does seem pretty noteworthy that we haven't heard anything from the hostage-takers yet even despite their central location.  They're across the street from a news station and still haven't said anything.

Which is part of the reason why they think it might have been accidental, the suggestions being they might have been planning something publicly in Martin Place itself but were spotted or spooked and ran into the cafe and have holed themselves up.

But again... no one knows.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Let us hope we'll soon be able to joke about the horrors of being trapped in a chocolate cafe rather than anything serious that transpires as a result of this.

[BaconBacon96]

The hostage taker called into Ray Hadley's radio station but Hadley refused to speak to him on air.

[Barnes]

My thoughts are with all of you guys down there.  I'm hoping this can be resolved without any injuries, or heaven forbid anything worse.

[Simfan34]

BBC: 3 hostages have escaped, including an employee!

[Mr. Morden]

Ugh....I'm traveling in the US right now, and on the wifi at LAX airport.  Almost immediately after I got off the plane, I saw a TV with Tony Abbott on it, and was wondering why NBC was talking about Australia.  Sad to see that this is what's going on, though at least no one's been hurt (yet).

[Knives]

No doubt Abbott will milk this for all its worth.

[Simfan34]

No doubt Abbott will milk this for all its worth.

Calm down. At least have the decency to wait until it's over.

[Knives]

No doubt Abbott will milk this for all its worth.

Calm down. At least have the decency to wait until it's over.

Oh please, everyone is thinking it.

[Ebowed]

No doubt Abbott will milk this for all its worth.

Calm down. At least have the decency to wait until it's over.

I couldn't help but think that too, even before I read anything (I heard a lot of talk at work - over in Randwick, though other staff are in the CBD).  I overheard one woman saying that she'd prefer the terrorists fight wars 'in their own countries.'  Yes, why wouldn't they have the decency to only retaliate in the places where they are bombed, I thought to myself.  But, the very fact that this incident stirs that sentiment in people when we don't even have answers to who is doing this and their motivation, was a depressing reminder to me that fear and bigotry will be prevalent throughout any situations like these.

[MaxQue]

No doubt Abbott will milk this for all its worth.

Calm down. At least have the decency to wait until it's over.

Because you think Abbott will wait?

[BaconBacon96]

The guy wants to speak to Abbott.

[Famous Mortimer]

This is one guy?

So it will end when he falls asleep, basically?

[Simfan34]

No doubt Abbott will milk this for all its worth.

Calm down. At least have the decency to wait until it's over.

Because you think Abbott will wait?

If has any sense of decency whatsoever, he will. Which, as far as I know, he actually has done.

[Famous Mortimer]

Yes, why wouldn't they have the decency to only retaliate in the places where they are bombed, I thought to myself.

What an odd comment and yes, I know it's sarcastic. Still odd, not completely sure what it means. You feel sorry for the terrorists being bombed? You think it's fair game for them to attack in Western countries?

[Ebowed]

Yes, why wouldn't they have the decency to only retaliate in the places where they are bombed, I thought to myself.

What an odd comment and yes, I know it's sarcastic. Still odd, not completely sure what it means. You feel sorry for the terrorists being bombed? You think it's fair game for them to attack in Western countries?

It's a direct response to the sentiment that the "terrorists" keep the violence to "themselves", which presupposes that everyone in "the Middle East or wherever this is happening" is either a terrorist or sympathetic to the terrorists.  No doubt had I made this comment to her, she may have asked the same accusatory questions.  I think it demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding, and for you to make light of the hostage situation in one post and then seize on the opportunity to take macho potshots in the next illustrates your callous disregard for the issues at hand.

[Famous Mortimer]

If your reaction is that innocent people in Afghanistan are just as much victims of Jihadism as innocent people in Australia and therefore it's callous to say Jihadists should only attack their own co-nations, yes I would agree.

If that was your reaction, you phrased it in a very weird and unclear way though.

[Mr. Morden]

Sounds like the gunmen told the hostages that he has two bombs in the cafe and two more elsewhere in Sydney: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/police-clear-martin-place-after-gunman-holds-hostages-at-lindt-chocolat-cafe-20141215-127824.html

[CLARENCE 2015!]

What is wrong with these crazy mother ers..............

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Absolutely horrifying... I was at the retirement home where I volunteer two days a week when I saw the news, really sent a shiver down my spine. My prayers and thoughts go out to all of those held hostage, their families, and their friends.

Here's a summary of today's events, for those who don't know/would like to know more, complete with video clips.

[Tender Branson]

Clearly a horrible situation.

But the media is once again making the same mistakes like in other tragedies such as Columbine, by broadcasting the IS flag in the window.

The Islamo-fascists should not be given a platform and any propaganda should not be published !

[Platypus]

I found this really moving:

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

Interview with Kathryn Chee, employee at the cafe. It's a puff piece but gosh.