Australia - Martin Place siege: 2 Hostages killed in Lindt Chocolate shop #1

[drsleuth]

ABC screening phone interview of Lindt employee. Sounds very upset. Saw her friend holding up the flag and can't imagine what was going through her friends mind. Talking about her friends that she could see in the windows.

I just listened to her as well........just horrific, poor girl.

 

[Snoods]

I think the 40 people from the CEO is just an estimate...he says there are 10 workers and there COULD be up to 30 customers.

 

[zwiebel]

Are police in Australia armed?

If they are, might be a bit of a kerfuffle if reports are true police were called to man with gun in bag but he was still alllowed to enter the cafe?

 

[Brightbird]

Z - it was a hostage not the gunman.

It's been mention that there only a few well trained and experienced negotiators in the State.

Well I guess a few is all they need :dunno: The LE tactical teams (or whatever they're called) in Australia have a pretty good reputation I think. The sieges I've seen on the news here tend to be drawn out over many hours. This is a different kettle of fish of course. I heard earlier they'll have psychologists and all kinds of specialists involved. It would be fascinating to be a fly on the wall to some of the talks going on now.

 

[SCHMAE]

There is a man on the phone saying he's in a building with 80 other people/employees. I missed WHERE his building is. It's clearly in harm's way, but I don't know if it's upstairs from the cafe shop ? TIA

 

[nat198]

God this is horrible. I'm hoping so hard for a peaceful end. My husband is right outside the cafe (LE) and have seen him a few times on tv so far. Horrible horrible situation. Those poor people in the cafe.

 

[Brightbird]

Are police in Australia armed?

If they are, might be a bit of a kerfuffle if reports are true police were called to man with gun in bag but he was still alllowed to enter the cafe?

Very well armed for situations like this.

 

[zwiebel]

Kristy Mayr @KristyMayr7 · 1m 1 minute ago

Flag inside the cafe under siege is believed to be a jihadist flag known as the 'Black Standard', inscribed with the shahada.. #7News

 

[LJKaust]

Oh Nat, you must be beside yourself. Thinking of you and your husband and family xo

 

[zwiebel]

Nice. Not.

'Uber is reportedly charging users a minimum $100 to get out of Sydney CBD, Mashable is reporting. The price has been pushed up because of a surge in the demand. Uber has a deal in New York to cap their surge pricing duing emergencies but it does not seem the same agreement is in place in Australia.'

http://www.theguardian.com/australi...stage-situation-inside-martin-place-cafe-live

 

[zwiebel]

'No disruption to mobile services in the city

This is from Deputy Technology Editor Ben Grubb: Despite Channel Seven reports that mobile phone services have been shut down in the CBD at the request of police this is not the case. "There is no disruption to Optus' mobile network in the Sydney CBD. Customers' voice and data services are operational," an Optus spokeswoman said. Telstra and Vodafone spokespeople would not comment, although it's understood they have not shut down services either. The issues may be related to congestion from people posting photos to social media using the mobile networks and making calls at the same time. NSW Police is yet to comment on whether it is using any mobile phone jamming equipment, although use of such equipment is illegal unless approved by the communications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority.'

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/lindt-cho...a-in-martin-place-sydney-20141215-1278cx.html

 

[Snoods]

God this is horrible. I'm hoping so hard for a peaceful end. My husband is right outside the cafe (LE) and have seen him a few times on tv so far. Horrible horrible situation. Those poor people in the cafe.

Oh no! I was just talking about how brave those LE are, you must be so proud. And scared to death...

 

[jojo87]

Looks like the original picture (the clear one I edited) was of the gunman. BBC news have shown the same image.
I don't want to re link it in case its one of the hostages though. I'll check if MSM have a link first.
ETA link from daily mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2873855/Gunman-takes-hostages-cafe-Sydney.html

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

God this is horrible. I'm hoping so hard for a peaceful end. My husband is right outside the cafe (LE) and have seen him a few times on tv so far. Horrible horrible situation. Those poor people in the cafe.

:grouphug: To you and your husband, Nat!

 

[zwiebel]

Antoinette Lattouf @antoinette_news · 2 mins 2 minutes ago

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione due to hold media conf shortly on the hostage situation . @SBSNews #sydneyseige

 

[madamehdivision]

I still can't get a hold of my Dad

 

[drsleuth]

I've just finished reading a book called " Under Siege" written Belinda Neil a former police hostage negotiator & trained at the counter terrorism level, she medically retired due to post traumatic stress!! Good read. They are very highly trained & not many of them..............I'd love to know her thoughts today!

 

[LJKaust]

ABC reported Fred Nile taking selfies in front of police tape. Now I've heard it all!! <modsnip>

 

[LJKaust]

Need coffee and wishing that I still smoked.

 

[jojo87]

I still can't get a hold of my Dad

Hugs I hope he can get in touch soon.