DeadVim

Indeed, the fireworks are going to look a little tame.

the troubadour

It would certainly make more sense. Nothing like the anger deserved has been shown towards the thumb fiddling banksters and the results unleashed onto the community.

carolinephillips

RIP the innocent victims of that deranged person.

Sad that it could not be resolved without bloodshed.

jothefw

True - feeling sad for those affected.

How is it, us as migrants face deportation if we do something wrong, refugees don't obviously?

the troubadour

A bit unfair. The perp was most likely an Australian citizen. A migrant as such would be at no greater disadvantage than a refugee obviously if also a citizen. Hope you are not attempting to turn the thread into a reffo bashing free for all.

Dorothy

Well, now it's no longer an anti-muslim fest it only makes sense to turn it into an anti refugee feest.

Vash the Stampede

The guy was a lone nut, out on bail for 40 sexual assault offences and an accessory to murder charge.

A self-proclaimed Iranian cleric with radical views. He originally claimed to have accomplices with bombs around the city, but the number of bombs kept changing (he first claimed two, then three, then four) which led me to believe it was just a bluff (turns out I was right).

He was originally Shia (as most Iranian Muslims are) but converted to Sunni quite recently. This explains his decision to support IS, which is anti-Shia.

He committed an act of terrorism, but he was not a member of any terrorist group; just a desperate criminal hoping to make a name for himself with a big event.

Looks like this was the motivation: 'Monis had his last appeal rejected by the High Court last week.' Must have decided he had nothing left to lose.

Very good work by the police, particularly considering the volatility of the situation.

He was a former refugee with Australian citizenship.

knockoff nige

I think we need to remove the motive angle from this incident as it was just one mad man. I don't agree with calling this a terrorism act as the PM has pretty much called it. Terrorists have a message, this guy had a jail term coming up he wanted to avoid. There is a big difference. A terrorist act creates a lasting fear after the incident. We have no need to be afraid of this guys followers as we have no reason to believe he has any.

the troubadour

I agree. It was a criminal act committed by a man with serious apparent mental health issues. Why wasn't he provided with the help required which may well have required confinement if indeed the reported incidences of some sixty sexual assaults are indeed the case?

I am jumping the gun though and know full well not to rely on so called media facts.

The main thing was the perp was something of a lost soul with little, if any support from within his community.

I suspect the treatment dished out to him during his recent prison stay may have confirmed in his mind there was no going back to that.

I actually suspected after he had made a point he would have been more likely turn the gun on himself than to harm the others.

Happily over. Sad for those deceased obviously. The one redeeming feature being it could have been plenty worse with many more body bags being carried out.

scrubbedexpat098

Looking at his alleged past record he should never have been free to walk the streets in the first place. System failure to protect the public.

renth

Agree 100%, when they listed all his wrongdoings I was like how the hell is this guy on bail?

Bernieboy

He was just an extreme 'mouth',i doubt very much he would have harmed the hostages,he was not yer classic terrorist or the shop would have been blown yesterday in full view of the world.My concern is that the media are saying the shop manager was a 'hero' and went for the gun which went off killing him and giving the security forces a reason to storm the place.If this is indeed true then the guy was an idiot,and is as much responsible for his own murder n that of the other hostage.I honestly believe this situation would have had a peaceful outcome had it not been for the actions of Mr Hero.I sympathise with the families of ALL those killed in this incident, a truely tragic event.

Pollyana

interesting to ponder on how it all fell apart..
We watched the whole thing at work last night as it unfolded, and it did seem odd that they named the guy and made it sound as if they were settled in for a long siege, and then the next minute flashes and bangs from inside and then police running everywhere. Makes sense if it was caused by the manager being a "have-a-go-hero". As soon as the shooting started I guess the police had little choice but to go in?
The media were shockingly sensational about the whole thing as it developed overnight, doesn't surprise me in the least that they are hailing the guy as a hero. From his point of view I guess he wouldn't be viewing it as "lets sit and wait" but more of wanting to get out asap. I guess thats where training in dealing with situations like that pays off - would you have been more inclined to sit and wait?

Bernieboy

Most certainly,my response is not a knee jerk one but a measured one,people need to take their feelings and sympathy out of the situation and look at the 'facts' as we know them at this point,a terrible end indeed,but was it really necessary,i don't think so.

renth

My thoughts exactly, I think a peaceful outcome was possible. I'm sure it won't be a popular opinion though.