Sydney siege may have been preventable, Australian PM says

Dec. 17, 2014: Police stand watch over flower tributes to the shooting victims on the footpath outside the the cordoned off area outside the Lindt cafe in the central business district of Sydney. (AP)

SYDNEY –  Australia’s prime minister said Thursday that a deadly siege in a Sydney cafe may have been preventable, as the chorus of critics demanding to know why the gunman was out on bail despite facing a string of violent charges grew louder.

Man Haron Monis, a 50-year-old Iranian-born, self-styled cleric with a lengthy criminal history, burst into a downtown Sydney cafe on Monday wielding a shotgun, taking 17 people hostage. The siege ended 16 hours later when police stormed into the cafe to free the captives, two of whom were killed in a barrage of gunfire, along with Monis.

“This has been a horrific wake-up call,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Macquarie Radio. “This was an atrocity — it may well have been a preventable atrocity, and that’s why this swift and thorough review is so important.”

Abbott has ordered a sweeping government review of the siege and the events leading up to it, including why Monis was out on bail and how he obtained a shotgun despite the country’s tough gun laws.

Court documents detail Monis’ long history with the law. In 2011, Noleen Hayson Pal — his ex-partner and mother of their two sons — told police Monis had threatened her life. He was subsequently charged with stalking and intimidation intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm.

Pal testified in January 2012 that Monis said to her, “If I don’t get to see the boys more than I am seeing them now, I’ll make sure you pay for it — even if it means I have to shoot you.”

Pal said she feared he would carry through on his threat, noting that he’d once told her he had a gun license. She said he grew increasingly paranoid when “he started getting more into his Islamic activities,” insisting on drawing the blinds and shutting all the doors when he visited her house. She also accused him of slapping their eldest son in the face.

“He’s always saying to me that people are watching, people are hearing our conversations,” she testified.

Monis was ultimately found not guilty of the charge. A year later, Pal was stabbed to death and set on fire.

Police charged Monis’ then-partner, Amirah Droudis, with Pal’s murder, and charged Monis as an accessory. Both were out on bail on the charges when Monis launched his siege on the cafe. He was also facing 40 charges of sexual assault, and had been granted bail on those charges as well.

Monis was convicted and sentenced last year to 300 hours of community service for sending what a judge called “grossly offensive” letters to families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009.

Three days before he began his siege, Australia’s highest court refused to hear his appeal of the convictions for sending the letters. The next business day, Monis walked into the Lindt Chocolat Cafe, a short stroll from the courtroom where the ruling was delivered.

“Just like about everyone else from the premier down, I was incredulous and exasperated at this,” Abbott said. “This guy has a long history of violence, a long history of mental instability, he has a long criminal record and obvious infatuation with extremism. It was extraordinary he was on our streets.”

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird concurred, saying, “I’m as outraged as everyone else.”

New South Wales Attorney General Brad Hazzard said he has asked the director of public prosecutions to review all cases where bail has been granted and where there are any similarities to Monis’ case.

“We have always believed that in this case, with this offender, he should have always been ‘bail refused,"” New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.

Katrina Dawson, a 38-year-old lawyer, and Tori Johnson, the cafe’s 34-year-old manager, were killed during Monis’ rampage. Officials have not said if they died in crossfire as police stormed in or were shot by their captor. Their autopsies were expected to be completed Thursday.

Martin Place, where the Lindt cafe is located, smelled and looked more like a fragrant field than a downtown plaza as people continued leaving thousands of bouquets of flowers to honor the victims.

Bravo Child, a poet holding a sign offering free hugs, said he’d hugged about 500 people after starting a Facebook campaign, Embrace in Martin Place. He said some people had laughed and others had cried while hugging him.

“When people sit at home and watch the TV there’s so much confusion and fear,” he said, adding he wanted to “bring some balance and some positivity.”

Several Muslim women wearing hijabs were also reaching out to people in the plaza.

Esha Deeb said she was there to represent the parent council of Arkana College, an independent Islamic school, and to pay her respects to the victims. While most people had been supportive, she said her group had encountered some negative reactions, including nasty comments and pushing. She said she was trying to turn the other cheek, as her religion suggested.

At least three of the hostages remained in Sydney area hospitals Thursday, according to hospital spokeswomen.

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Sydney siege may have been preventable, Australian PM says

"Office" siege

On a bleak, rainy night, Jamaica’s National Stadium was not a familiar place anymore. For a moment, I thought I was in San Jose. But gazing up at the Long Mountain to the east were familiar landmarks, so this must be Kingston.

With Costa Rican fans in their red, white and blue colours representing the dominant numbers in the Reggae Boyz’s World Cup qualifier against the Central Americans on Tuesday night, the spattering of Jamaican supporters had no voice. They had surrendered their fortress to the invading forces.The poor turnout from a Jamaican perspective was a pointed message that local fans had lost hope in the Boyz.Only diehard supporters huddled in small pockets stood up to avert a total national disgrace.The occasion brought back memories of the RFK Stadium, Washington DC, USA, 1997, when Jamaicans, clad in the national colours of black, green and gold, overran the 51,528 capacity stadium.But it also brought back memories of how Reggae Boyz were cheated of a victory when Ian ‘Pepe’ Goodison was wrongfully penalised for a handball outside the penalty area, but the Chilean referee awarded the Yanks a penalty. The game ended 1-1.And that’s the same scoreline between the Boyz of today in their crucial Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Costa Ricans on Tuesday night, a result which in effect extended Jamaica’s slim outside chance for a fourth-place play-off, as they lie at the bottom of the hexagonal with four points.Local cult hero, Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson, entered the battle in the 68th minute to replace Marlon King, at the exact time, Costa Rica’s second substitution was made, as Randall Brenes replaced their main tormentor, Diego Calvo. Both would directly impact the proceedings, as Brenes benefited from goalkeeper Richard McCallum’s errant grounded cross-field, defensive lapse to convert at the near post, five minutes after his entry.Eventually at the death, Anderson would have to patiently await his moment of glory. The Waterhouse FC hitman, ran around trying desperately to catch a feel of the game, as he hustled on the right flank. After he received a pass from Lloyd Doyley, he inflicted what appeared a nasty left arm blow to the face of Costa Rica’s Michael Umana, which he was lucky to get away with.He, again, was pushing the envelope, as he was fully extended on the opposite side of the park, failing to hit the ball cleanly as his left-footer skewed away towards the corner post from Doyley’s accurate cross.It was his third major involvement that brought redemption to a man left wandering in the international football wilderness for far too long.When he finally scored, ‘Tuffy’ got a hero’s applause, and rightly so for a man who has exhibited commitment to country, confidence in self, and professionalism in the line of duty, to produce in the most prized skill as the consummate goalscorer.DISAPPOINTING GAMEThe rest of the game was disappointing from both teams, as Costa Rica showed glimpses of their ability largely through Calvo’s exploits on the left, and captain Bryan Ruiz, while the young sensation Joel Campbell appeared infrequently.The Costa Ricans were more focused on securing a fourth FIFA World Cup place, and so they protected their goal knowing a draw would propel them to Brazil. Los Ticos, as a clear game plan, counter-attacked whenever the Boyz exposed themselves defensively.The Jamaicans were more reserved in their attitude and approach that lacked genuine enthusiasm, save for a few players at different times, but not seemingly a united team effort. They looked bent on running a mile rather than being a world-class sprinter like Usain Bolt or pocket-rocket, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.Two defensive lines of three players deployed in a back of three, marshalled by Wes Morgan, Jermaine Taylor and the welcome return of Adrian Mariappa, and was deeper reinforced by another line of three defensive midfielders, spread across the park, in Marvin Elliott in the centre, flanked on the left by Shaun Cummings, and Doyley, right.Unnecessary and unproductive ball possession, lack of ball-handling skills, pressure and desperation culminated with long arbitrary punts up field, usually leading to turnovers to the opponents.Little or no productivity but hardworking, coming from the possession and attacking midfielders in Jobi McAnuff and Garath McCleary, who purposely sprang to life in the second half with three or four shots goalwards. None really threatening, following consistent solo dribbling that on one occasion looked promising, but definitely not in the class of the strangely excluded Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson, who warmed the bench all night.Captain on the night Luton Shelton looked to have a real focus on goal but after about three shots on target, high pressing and tackles he was curiously replaced at the half-time. Why? King not match-fit from an absence since February tried to answer the call but after being set-up early by Shelton, his attempts fizzled and was rightfully replaced by Anderson.The third substitution was even stranger, as in desperation, Elliott gave way to another attacker Chris Humphrey in minute 82 for a last hurrah, as McAnuff was relegated to defensive duty. He looked surprised and reluctantly dragged himself into position to strike a few passes right side, then on making one tackle actually stopped and walked back to the position as all around ran to recover, at that time he was dead tired, frustrated and had no more to offer, having spent all his energy toiling in attack throughout the game.The now unproductive dribbling of McCleary attracted three players, as is customary to pass it back into defence to left-sided captain, Taylor who had been pushing every button he could find to penetrate the opponents backline. Once again, he launched a long ball, this time diagonally to the right far post ahead of the streaking Anderson.As custodian Patrick Pemberton advanced to hold his near post to block the anticipated right-footed shot, cunningly Tuffy changed feet in mid-stride to extend his left-foot, guiding it delicately into the far post away from him to score in time added on.A large section of the Costa Rican supporters at the National Stadium on Tuesday night.

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"Office" siege

Seven killed in Florida hostage siege

27 July 2013 Last updated at 16:11 ET Victim’s daughter: “I heard 15 to 20 shots”

A gunman holding hostages in a building near Miami in the US state of Florida killed six people before being shot dead by police, officials say.

Officers stormed the block of flats in Hialeah, north of Miami, on Saturday morning after a stand-off lasting several hours.

Two hostages were freed unharmed, police said.

Five of the victims were found inside the complex. Another man was killed while walking across a street outside.

‘Screaming’

Police were called after shots were fired on Friday evening.

They said gunman Pedro Vargas, 43, set his apartment on fire. When the building manager and his wife noticed the smoke and ran to his apartment, he shot them dead.

The couple’s daughter Shamira Piscotti said: “I heard about 15 to 20 shots and so I went outside.

“My neighbours were screaming that my parents had been shot. I guess there was an altercation and the person opened fire on both of them.”

The attacker went on to kill a man walking in the street and a family of three who lived downstairs, police said.

He is then believed to have barricaded himself in a flat and taken two people hostage.

Police moved in after almost eight hours of negotiations, local media said.

“They made the decision to go in there and save and rescue the hostages,” Sgt Eddie Rodriguez told the Associated Press.

A 9mm pistol was found at the scene.

Police say there was no clear motive for the shooting and they are still investigating the circumstances.

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Seven killed in Florida hostage siege