Australian Police storm Sydney cafe ending 16-hour hostage crisis; 2 reportedly killed

Australian security forces on Tuesday stormed the Sydney cafe where several hostages were being held at gunpoint, in what police confirmed was the end of a standoff that had dragged on for more than 16 hours.
Heavy gunfire and loud bangs rang out shortly after 2 a.m. local time (1500 GMT on Monday), and moments earlier at least six people believed to have been held captive had managed to flee the scene.

Medics moved in and took away five injured people on stretchers. Channel 7 Australia reported that two people had been killed in the final raid on the cafe and three more were seriously injured. It was not clear if the suspect was among those killed in the raid.

The suspect was identified as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian refugee and self-styled sheikh facing multiple charges of sexual assault.

He was also found guilty in 2012 of sending offensive and threatening letters to families of eight Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan, as a protest against Australia's involvement in the conflict, according to local media reports.

During the siege, hostages had been forced to display an Islamic flag, igniting fears of a jihadist attack....................... http://www.jpost.com/International/Hostages-held-in-Sydney-cafe-in-possible-jihadist-attack-384647
15/12/14
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