Sydney siege

The fear on their faces was clear to see as customers at the popular Lindt cafe in Sydney’s CBD pressed a black flag with Arabic writing on it against the shop’s window. It was only then that passersby and the news crew in the building opposite began to realise that a terrifying seige was unfolding before them.

It was the first time Australians had faced possible terrorism on their own soil, and in uncertain times, it sent waves of fear across the nation.

During the 16-hour stand-off, lone gunman Man Haron Monis held 18 people – staff and customers in thehe cafe – hostage. While a number of them managed to escape, when Monis executed cafe manager Tori Johnson, police moved in and the resultingng gun battle ended with Monis and Sydney barrister Katrinarina Dawson both dead and threehree hostages and an officer injured. Police were quick to reveal that rather than it being a terrorist attack, Monis was a disturbed individual with a criminal past, however his shocking crime brought terror into our hearts.

Hostages holding up a flag was one of the early signs something was amiss. Hostage Jieun Bae flees the crazed gunman at Sydney’s Lindt cafe. Gunman Monis. Martin Place became a makeshift memorial. Marcia Mikhael received a gunshot wound to the leg....