carolinephillips

Watching the news in Sydney. OH's office is in lockdown. Hope that no one else is affected.

Molly Coddle

Just got phone call off a relative from the UK as we were supposed to be in Sydney, but not going until tomorrow now. Just got the news on now, we didn't know anything about it until we got the phone call. Hope everyone in Sydney on BE is safe.

Molly Coddle

BBC News - Sydney siege: Gunman takes hostages in Lindt cafe

Kim67

There's another thread in the Australia forum - hope your partner gets home safe soon Caroline.

carolinephillips

As the emergency officer, and someone who has gone through all the IRA stuff in London, OH is spending a lot of time calming down his colleagues who are stressed out.

He says he is shielded by his sheer awesomeness!


Update: he has just said they are all being sent home by car.

Molly Coddle

Keep us updated C. Just watching it now.

carolinephillips

This is what terrorism is- making everyone stressed and afraid, even if they are not actually held hostage. It is a marketing strategy to say their message is "fear us:we are powerful and will not show mercy. Your only chance to escape is to convert." ISIS is on a jihad and has declared war on the western world, and all non muslims.

I'm more annoyed that they have taken over the chocolate shop and it will be out of action for some time!!


(Not seriously though!)

Molly Coddle

It was a matter of time, I just hope Tony Abott doesn't mess about. He needs to be sending a clear message out ASAP.



Lol@ you. What are you like girl!

GarryP

Actually it's not.

The supposed aim is to push governments into particular courses of action that they wouldn't otherwise take, on the threat of ..... terror.

The usual stated aims are something like "leave ISIS alone to be barbaric scum in their 'caliphate'". However that very rarely works, such that I doubt even the scum would believe it.

Today it's usually more goading the government into action, by bombing more civilians, are infringing more freedoms, such that some idiots think "those ISIS lot must have something, since this government action is cruel and repressive (my enemies friend is my friend)". Thus gaining recruits, money, support.

In either circumstance, the best reaction is "tsk, tsk". Not paying much attention robs it of the power to do either - providing you don't have some maniac/idiot politician using it as a pretext to start bombing a totally different country (cough, cough, cheney).

Of course, in private you cut the throats of the leaders of scummy terrorist organisation - so the message is sent quietly but directly - it hurts.

carolinephillips

OH is safely home now.

Bernieboy

So he's the reason the IRA called a ceasefire eh

jvisions

Does anyone have a good live source to keep upto date with this?

Kim67

renth

So they are over the road from the RBA - they picked the wrong target, they should be holding the Bankers hostage not ordinary folk doing Xmas shopping.

jad n rich

Saw it breaking on news at gym this morning, my immediate thoughts were New Years Eve Sydney only 2 weeks away....