Sydney Siege Over, Gunman, Two Hostages Killed

The 16-hour-long hostage crisis at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe at artin Place in Sydney came to an end last night with a commando operation. The Iranian gunman Man Haron Monis, was gunned down, but he killed two hostages before being shot dead. Three people sustained injuries in the gunbattle.

Three Indians, Biswakant Ankireddy (Andhra Pradesh), Pushpendu Ghosh (West Bengal) and Deepak Mishra (Odisha) who were among the hostages, escaped unhurt. A 38-year-old woman (Katrina Dawson, a mother of two) and a 34-year-old man (Tori Johnson, manager of Lindt Café) were killed, as the Sydney siege came to an end.

The 50-year-old Man Haron Monis, had taken asylum in Australia. Iran had warned the Autralian government earlier about his past record and mental conditions, which were ignored. Monis had arrived in Australia as a refugee in 1996.