Sydney standoff has finally ended after dragging on for 16 hours. There was heavy eruption of gunfire and death when the armed police stormed in a café right in the heart of the financial center of Australia's capital.
Andrew Sciopone, the State Police Commissioner of New South Wales, said that the gunman and two of the hostages died in fiery exchange that ended the crisis. He spoke at a press conference early Tuesday and stated that four of the 17 total hostages, as well as one police officer, have been injured in the Sydney standoff.
Sciopone lauded the police, as well as the hostages, for their courage as the horror unfolded before them. "This was an isolated incident," he said. "This should never destroy or change the way of our life."
After long hours of only little movement, live television suddenly broadcast a group of approximately six hostages running from the Lindt Chocolat Café. The police then swarmed the establishment to the pops of gunfire and smoke grenades.
Later, officers assisted a crying woman from the café and at least two other people were wheeled out on stretchers.
According to Sciopone, the police immediately moved on as soon as they heard gunshots fired from inside the café. "Incidents unfolding inside the premises led them to believe that now was the time to deploy," he explained. He also mentioned that a 34-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were killed in the Sydney standoff.
The lone gunman was later identified as Man Haron Monis, 50 years old. He was born in Iran and was a self-proclaimed Muslim cleric who had a lengthy criminal record and was only set free on bail.
His former lawyer, Manny Conditsis, informed the state news agency, Australian Broadcasting Corp., "This is a one-off random individual. It's not a concerted terrorism event or act. It's a damaged goods individual who's done something outrageous."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
