Gunman takes hostages in Sydney

[V13dweller]

Possibly dead.
2 dead, 3 injured.

~Source, India Today
~Reddit, Sydney Siege live coverage.
Nothing from any Australian sources, many conflicting news outlets.

Standing by for anything new, from a local source.

ABC News 24 is broadcasting Live from here, http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/

They are being careful to only show information that is Confirmed.

[V13dweller]

Channel 9 confirms 2 people dead, one is the Gunman.

Approx. 9 people inside when the police entered, No Officers have been harmed.

Edit: All hostages accounted for, the current status is unknown, but one hostage was seen in critical condition, Police are yet to confirm. ~Reddit Live Stream, Sydney Siege.

For reference, the gunman's name is "Man Haron Monis"

[Tchocky]

[V13dweller]

If that tag is at me, I am taking care to Quote, rather than confirm anything myself, I am just providing information from the Reddit Live stream and ABC News 24 (Which I am watching live)

And the ABC is only providing info they can confirm.

http://www.reddit.com/live/u2pwph99rvy6

If you don't want me doing that, I won't.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by V13dweller

This kind of situation is not a Waste of Money,

I meant the legal circus that were about to begin in case he survived, and the prison costs.

[V13dweller]

All hostages have been taken to hospital. One hostage with a gun-shot wound to her shoulder.
Source: 9 News Broadcast


From the Reddit Stream.

@Skybird, having him rot in prison is a more suitable punishment than death, rather see him there than dead, death is an escape.

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by V13dweller

If that tag is at me, I am taking care to Quote, rather than confirm anything myself, I am just providing information from the Reddit Live stream and ABC News 24 (Which I am watching live)

And the ABC is only providing info they can confirm.

http://www.reddit.com/live/u2pwph99rvy6

If you don't want me doing that, I won't.

Not directed at you at all, mate. Just something worth remembering for everyone in situations like this.

[V13dweller]

Good to hear, just trying not to be a problem here.

"The AP is reporting a Sydney Hospital Official is stating at least one hostage is going to a local hospital for a believed gunshot wound to the leg." ~Multiple AP reports, live stream.

EDIT: 1:13 AWST, no new information is coming in for now, luckily I have no work to go to tomorrow, so I can keep covering this.

[V13dweller]

The police plan to hold a full briefing at 5:00 AM AEDT.

[Jimbuna]

Well wherever this gunman ends up, I hope they're fresh out of virgins.

[V13dweller]

Them ABC and the Police have confirmed the gunman Man Haron Monis is dead.

Thank god this is finally over, though it is not over for the families of those involved, I hope they get the support they need.
A major briefing will take place between 5:00 and 5:30 AEDT.

Well I have to head off now, it's 2:10 AWST, good night.

Edit: death count rises to 3 as a man and woman in their 30's have been killed.
4 people are also injured including a police officer. This is all confirmed by police.

The press conference has been delayed and will be starting soon, follow that ABC News 24 link for live coverage.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Finnish national broadcaster YLE reports three casualties: hostage taker, hostage and police officer.

BBC reports that 34-year old man and 38-year old woman died along the hostage taker. No mention on whether they were hostages or not.

[Onkel Neal]

It's a miracle more weren't killed. Thankfully, the Aussie police were very competent in dealing with this.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by V13dweller

@Skybird, having him rot in prison is a more suitable punishment than death, rather see him there than dead, death is an escape.

I am not about punishment when considering death "penalties", but prevention of future events/deeds that i do not want to become real. A death penalty is no penalty, but a deletion.

If it were about punishment a la "an eye for an eye", then only the victims suffering damage/losses can determine the quantity and quality of said punishment, from "none" (forgiveness) to an equal amount of what the victim suffered in losses/pain - and not more the penalty should be allowed to be. Additionally there must be damage compensation, which itself is not part of "punishment". Compensation, and punishment are two different things.

Or you consider punishment to be a psychological tool to alter the behavior of the deliquent in such a way that he will not do again what he is being punished for, that is being reached by exposing him to aversive stimuli of such a nature that he will try hard to avoid ever getting exposed to them again.

Modern law does not understand either the one^, or the other^^. Social reintegration is its focus. On that basis one should also agree to conduct brain surgery and genetic therapy if that would be found to alter the subject'S behavior in the desired way: to fit into the framework of socially accepted behavior. Of course - this implication is easily dismissed by most, and does not get understood or accepted by most. But its true.

A religious fanatic feeling like a martyr is not being punished by locking him in prison. It confirms to him that he is a martyr and that his suffering is a service to his god(s) he believes in. Why wasting money for that?

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

It's a miracle more weren't killed. Thankfully, the Aussie police were very competent in dealing with this.

Agreed. The NSW Police are a great bunch.

It's a shame the gunman died. I would've liked to have seen him on trial, and rotting in prison (we don't have the death penalty here). As it is, he'll probably be made a Martyr by some idiots.

It's dreadful that two of the hostages were killed, but it could have been much worse. Still, I can't imagine what their families are going through right now.

I've been impressed by the Islamic community's response to this. They did the usual (sane) thing and condemned the gunman, but one Mosque (the closest to the siege, I think) actually went as far as to host a inter-faith prayer vigil for the hostages. While the gunman was spreading a message of hate in the name of Islam, his fellow Muslims were inviting a Rabbi into a Mosque.