Gunman named as café siege in Sydney ends

Updated at 2 p.m. EST | The man who held more than a dozen people hostage in a café in Sydney is believed to be self-described cleric Man Haron Monis, according to Australian news reports.

The 50-year-old Monis came from Iran to Australia in 1996 and is known to authorities, reported Australia’s 9News.

Police and paramedics stormed the cafe early Tuesday morning local time, ending the 16-hour siege. Police moved in after hearing gunfire, said New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione. Three people, including the gunman, were killed, he said.

Among the injured, a female hostage in her 40s was shot in the leg and was in serious but stable condition at Royal North Shore Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

After the gunman took over the Lindt Chocolat Café on Monday morning, hostages were seen inside holding up their hands and pressing them against the windows. Two people held up a black flag with Islamic writing, raising fears that it was a jihadist attack.

Five people escaped: three ran out of the café during the first six hours of the incident. And two women who appeared to be employees of the chocolate shop ran out the fire exit into the arms of police. Scipione said there were 17 hostages in all.

Authorities closed the streets around the café in Martin Place in Sydney’s financial and shopping district on Monday, and urged workers in the area to stay at home.

Muslim organizations denounced the hostage-taking in a statement signed by more than 40 Muslim institutions and posted on the Lakemba Mosque’s Facebook page:

“The Australian Muslim community shares with fellow Sydneysiders their utter shock and horror at the unprecedented scenes emerging from the Lindt cafe in Martin Place this morning. Our immediate thoughts go to the hostages and their loved ones. We pray for their safety and hope this matter is resolved quickly and peacefully.

“We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being, or to instill fear and terror into their hearts. Any such despicable act only serves to play into the agendas of those who seek to destroy the goodwill of the people of Australia and to further damage and ridicule the religion of Islam, and Australian Muslims through this country.

“We remind everyone that the Arabic inscription on the black flag is not representative of a political statement, but reaffirms a testimony of faith that has been misappropriated by misguided individuals that represent no one but themselves….

“We pray for a swift resolution to this crisis with no injuries or loss of life.”

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