Faces of the Sydney siege hero victims: Young barrister and mother-of-three died after 'shielding pregnant friend' from gunfire and the café manager, 34, shot dead as he tried to grab terrorist’s gun
- Tori Johnson, 34, and Katrina Dawson, 38, were killed during a terrorist siege at Sydney's Lindt cafe on Monday
- Mr Johnson, the cafe manager of two years, tried to wrestle the gun from the hostage-taker before he was shot
- Police stormed building with automatic weapons and grenades where gunman had held hostages for 16 hours
- Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Islamic extremist Man Haron Monis was not on terrorism watchlist
- 20-year-old university student who became terrified face of the siege had started work 45 minutes before siege
- Lawyer who is 19 weeks pregnant survived siege only to discover her friend and colleague was killed
- Siege survivor tells how hostages were forced to make chilling extremist propaganda videos from inside cafe
- Police raid home of the terrorist's partner in Sydney as questions are raised about why he was free on bail
- Monis forced several hostages to record chilling video messages uploaded to YouTube before attack ended
Published: 08:49 GMT, 16 December 2014 | Updated: 11:50 GMT, 16 December 2014
A barrister who died in Sydney's terrorist siege was today hailed a hero after it was claimed she was killed shielding a pregnant friend from gunfire.
Mother-of-three Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson, the manager of the Lindt cafe in Martin Place, were the two hostages killed in the bloody climax.
Mrs Dawson, 38, whose children are all under ten, was a barrister in Sydney's central business district opposite the siege site and died of a heart attack.
She had been getting coffee with pregnant Julie Taylor when Man Haron Monis entered the building - and later admirably shielded her friend from bullets.
It was not clear whether Mrs Dawson was shot or what other injuries, if any, she sustained in the shocking incident.
Mr Johnson, 34, was shot dead after he tried to wrestle the gun from 'hate sheikh' Monis inside the cafe just after 2am on Tuesday.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher spoke at a prayer service later on Tuesday of how the two victims were 'willing to lay down their lives so others might live'.
Today, as police began a wide-ranging probe into the events, Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the gunman was not on a terrorism watch list.
Mr Abbott questioned why 'someone who has had such a long and chequered history' was allowed to be 'entirely at large in the community'.
Monis was on bail on a charge of colluding with his partner, Amirah Droudis, to murder a woman - and on bail for more than 40 sexual assault charges.
The known hate preacher had been facing charges for allegedly sexually abusing a woman while advertising himself as a ‘spiritual healer’.
Two hostages killed: Tori Johnson (left), the 34-year-old manager of the Lindt cafe, and mother of three Katrina Dawson (right), 38, both died
Relief and tragedy: Oxford-educated barrister Julie Taylor (left), who is 19 weeks pregnant, escaped the horror of the Sydney siege only to learn her friend Katrina Dawson had died after shielding her from the gunman. Ms Taylor is pictured (right) inside the cafe after she was picked by hostage-taker Man Haron Monis to be in a video to list his twisted demands during the 17-hour siege
In the days leading up to the siege he was engaged in rants on his Twitter account which seemed to grow more strident as Monday approached.
The 50-year-old 'lone gunman’ at the heart of the hostage crisis, Iranian refugee and Islamic extremist Monis, was also pronounced dead in hospital.
Monis forced several of his hostages to record chilling video messages uploaded to YouTube before the terror attack came to a dramatic close.
At least three female captives were forced to read Monis's list of demands - which included a phone conversation with the Australian Prime Minister.
Three people died after the 16-hour siege, which came to a dramatic end when armed police stormed the building in scenes that shocked the world.
It was also revealed today that:
- A 20-year-old university student who became the terrified face of the siege had started work 45 minutes before the gunman walked in
- A lawyer who is 19 weeks pregnant survived the siege only to discover her friend and colleague was killed in the incident
- Police raided the home of the terrorist's wife as questions were raised about why he was free on bail over an accessory to a murder charge
- In the days leading up to the siege, Monis was engaged in rants on his personal Twitter account which seemed to grow more strident
- Visitors to the area caused fury on Twitter after queuing to pose for 'selfie' photographs of themselves at the scene of the siege
He said: ‘It is obviously very concerning, what has taken place, albeit on the other side of the world but in a country very close to our hearts.’
Out safely: Lindt employee Elly Chen (left), lawyer Stefan Balafoutis (middle) and John O’Brian (right) were among the first to escape
Astonishing scenes: Police raided the cafe in central Sydney early on Tuesday, bringing a dramatic end to a 17-hour siege
Petrified: Two heavily armed police officers assist a hostage away from Lindt Cafe in Martin Place in central Sydney
Man Haron Monis: The 50-year-old 'lone gunman’ at the heart of the hostage crisis was also pronounced dead in hospital
On Monday, US president Barack Obama was briefed on the siege and discussed the situation with his top counter-terrorism advisor, Lisa Monaco.
Gunfire at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in the bustling Martin Place shopping area prompted police to move in just after 2am local time on Tuesday.
Four people were taken to hospital following the siege, including a police officer with facial wounds from gunshot pellets.
Shortly after laying flowers near the scene, Mr Abbott admitted there were questions to be answered over why Monis was freed on bail.
Tributes: As Australia mourned the dead, thousands of people gathered at Martin Place to lay flowers
Shock: Many of those office workers, friends and tourists leaving tributes in Sydney were in tears
Observing the flowers: New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione visited the scene outside the Lindt cafe on Tuesday morning
Investigated: Police have raided the home in Belmore, in Western Sydney, where Man Haron Monis was thought to be living
Probe: Police take bags of evidence from the house where Man Haron Monis spent time with his partner Amirah Droudis
'I REGRET TO SAY I AM A TERRORIST' - SO WHY IS GIRLFRIEND OF SYDNEY SIEGE FANATIC STILL ON THE STREET?
Amirah Droudis reported to a police station in Sydney on Tuesday
The girlfriend of the Sydney terror siege gunman posted a series of hate-filled videos in which she described herself as a terrorist and expressed happiness at the 9/11 and 2002 Bali terror attacks and the Holocaust.
Amirah Droudis, 35, appeared in public Tuesday (below) just hours after her partner Man Haron Monis was shot dead by police to end a 17-hour siege in which he held a score of hostages at a central Sydney cafe. Two of the captives also died.
Droudis reported to Campsie Police Station in southwestern Sydney, reportedly as required under conditions of her bail for the alleged murder of Monis' ex-wife, Noleen Hayson Pal, who was stabbed multiple times and set alight in April 2013. Monis was also charged in connection to the murder.
Four years before the killing, a woman believed to be Droudis posted a series of chilling videos on YouTube in which she described acts of terrorism as God's will. The videos bear the address of Monis' web site.
'I regret to say I am a terrorist. I admit and formally confess that for many years I have been a terrorist, but I'll try not to be anymore,' says the woman in one of the videos, whose face is mostly covered by a niqab.
In another video post, the women describes acts including the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and the Al Qaeda-linked Bali bombings as 'acts of God.'
He said: ‘This has been an absolutely appalling and ugly incident - that's the only way to describe it.
‘Our hearts go out to the families of Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson. These were decent ordinary people who were going about their ordinary lives.
‘Decent, innocent people who were caught up in the sick fantasy of a deeply disturbed individual.'
He added that Monis was ‘well known to the Australian Federal Police… but I don't believe that he was on a terror watch list at this time’.
Police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn told reporters today the gunman was ‘unstable’.
She said: ‘He was on bail and in terms of that matter, his movements will form part of the critical investigation.
‘He has clearly made some statements. This is a man who had a serious history of offences and a history of violence.
‘A man we do believe had some extremist views and we also believe he was unstable.
<center></center>
'HE IS NOW THREATENING TO KILL US': CHILLING VIDEOS OF SIEGE SURVIVORS FROM INSIDE THE LINDT CAFE
A woman who was held hostage by a gunman in the terrorist siege at Sydney's Lindt cafe was forced to record a chilling video message by her captor with a list of demands.
Marcia Mikhael, who works as a Westpac executive, also warned via social media that Iranian-born gunman Man Haron Monis was 'threatening to start killing us' as she huddled with 17 other terrified hostages inside the Martin Place cafe on Monday afternoon.
Ms Mikhael, 42, was one of several hostages forced to stand in front of a black Islamic flag and relay several demands required by the 50-year-old gunman who she referred to as 'The Brother'.
'This is a message to Tony Abbott. We're held here hostage and The Brother has three requests,' Ms Mikhael said in the video.
Composed: At least three female captives, including Selina Win Pe (pictured) were forced to read Monis's list of demands
Marcia Mikhael, a Westpac bank executive who had called in for her morning coffee, was forced to record a chilling video message
She said the gunman had demanded an Islamic State flag, to speak with the Prime Minister and to let the media know of two other bombs in the Sydney CBD in exchange for hostages.
'We don't understand why these demands haven't been met yet, they are not unreasonable,' she said.
Ms Mikhael, who also works as a fitness business owner, delivered a frightening eyewitness account from inside the cafe when she was also forced to post the demands on her Facebook page.
'Dear friends and family,' she wrote.
'I'm at the Lindt café at Martin Place being held hostage by a member of the ISI. The man who is keeping us hostage has asked for small and simple requests and none have been met.
'He is now threatening to start killing us. We need help right now. The man wants the world to know that Australia is under attack by the Islamic State.'
Escaped: Marcia Mikhail, 42, (left) is a Westpac executive and Harriette Denny, 30, (middle) and Jieun Bae, 20, (right) are Lindt employees
Out: Lawyer Julie Taylor (left), 19-year-old Jarrod Hoffman (middle) and Fiona Ma (right) escaped the frightening ordeal
Survived: Westpac employees Selina Win Pe (left), Viswakanth Ankireddy (middle) and Puspendu Ghosh (right)
Extremist: Man Haron Monis - also known as Sheik Haron - has been named as the gunman holding people hostage in a Sydney café
In the days leading up to the siege Monis was engaged in rants on his Twitter which seemed to grow more strident as Monday approached
‘We will clearly have a look at all the things we can find out about him so we can determine what might have triggered anything.’
She refused to speculate on the actions of the cafe manager, when asked if he had acted heroically. ‘I'm not going to talk about individual actions at all.
‘This will all come out in time but can I just say every single one of the hostages, every single one of those victims was courageous.’
Earlier, police commissioner Andrew Scipione said that 17 hostages had been accounted for in total, including five who escaped early in the attack.
Mr Scipione said: ‘This was an isolated incident, it is an isolated incident.
‘Do not let this sort of incident bring about any loss of confidence about working or visiting in our city. It was the act of an individual.
‘This should never change or destroy the way of our life. This won't change our lives, this will not change the things we hold dear in this country.’
A hostage feared dead is carried out of the cafe after they were reportedly shot by the hostage-taker, prompting police to storm the building
Horrifying: A female hostage is carried out and away from the cafe - clearly in distress with blood pouring down the legs
Chains: Gunman Man Haron Monis, pictured here protesting charges against him earlier this year, held 17 people hostage in the Lindt cafe
The officer said the Lindt cafe had been secured and no explosive devices were found.
He urged people not to ‘speculate’ about what had happened, adding that police believed more lives could have been lost had they not taken action.
‘Events that were unfolding inside the premises led them to the belief that now was the time to actually deploy, and they did,’ he said.
‘I understand there were a number of gunshots that were heard, which caused officers to move towards an emergency action plan.’
Local media reports suggested that commandos from the Royal Australian Regiment had entered the building after the gunman started firing shots.
In addition to the wounded police officer, two women were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and one woman went as a precaution.
Ms Burn also said she had spoken to the officer, who had been discharged from hospital.
‘What I can say about him is I've spoken to him this morning,’ she said.
Shocking: With terror etched on their faces, two female hostages run into the arms of armed police at the back of the building
Remembrance: New South Wales Premier Mike Baird laid a bunch of flowers alongside hundreds of other Sydneysiders
Lydia Shelly (left) and Terri Lucia (right) were among those with tears streaming down their faces as they paused at the makeshift memorial
‘He was on his way home actually and he was a little bit shaken. His only words to me were “I will be back at work tomorrow”.’
Police confirmed that a number of hostages had ‘traumatic injuries’ and some had ‘medical conditions’.
Uninjured hostages are now expected to be interviewed as part of a critical incident investigation by police.
Flags at government buildings will be flown at half-mast in the wake of the tragedy, Mr Abbott announced.
The end of the siege came soon after the hostage taker was named as self-styled Muslim cleric Monis.
Born Manteghi Bourjerdi, he arrived in Australia in 1996 as a refugee, changing his name to Man Haron Monis and assuming the title of Sheikh Haron.
He had attracted attention in recent years by writing offensive letters to the families of Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Police officers wearing armoured suits walk with a robot towards Lindt Cafe in Martin Place to check for booby traps after the siege ended
Heavily armed police remained posted around the cafe as night fell and the hostage drama continued into the night
Dubbed the ‘hate sheikh’, he was sentenced to 300 hours of community service for writing the letters.
He was also banned in 2010 from sending ‘letters of condolence’ to the families of British soldiers killed in that conflict.
Monis was also on bail as an alleged accessory to the murder of his ex-wife and for a string of sex claims, police confirmed.
During the stand-off he was said to have demanded to have a flag of the Islamic State militant group delivered to the cafe.
But his former lawyer said he believed Monis had acted alone and was not part of a terrorist conspiracy.
Manny Conditsis told the ABC: ‘This is a one-off random individual. It's not a concerted terrorism event or act.
‘It's a damaged goods individual who's done something outrageous.
‘His ideology is just so strong and so powerful that it clouds his vision for common sense and objectiveness.’
A young female employee came running out of the Lindt cafe shortly before 5pm on Monday and was sheltered by waiting police
Another distraught female worker, cafe barista Elly Chen, bolted from the shop before taking cover with police
A total of five hostages have now escaped Lindt cafe - it's believed they escaped and were not released
'Omg Elly!! So glad you're OK': Ms Chen, pictured, was the fifth hostage, scrambling from the cafe with her hands in the air
Adam Houda, a well-known Sydney solicitor who had also represented Monis, described him as ‘mad as a cut snake’.
Fearing a backlash against Muslims, Australians offered to transport them on public transport and showed their support on Twitter with the hashtag #illridewithyou.
Lindt & Sprungli, the company whose cafe was at the centre of the hostage crisis, said it was ‘profoundly saddened and deeply affected’ by the death of innocent people.
‘We are devastated by the loss of their lives and that several others were wounded and had to experience such trauma,’ the company said.
‘Our thoughts and feelings are with the victims and their families who have been through an incredible ordeal, and we want to pay tribute to their courage and bravery.’
New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes said families would be offered support as a post-mortem examination got under way.
He said: ‘Counsellors from the Department of Forensic Medicine will provide counselling and support for any of the bereaved relatives who wish to receive it.
‘The state coroner will conduct the inquest as soon as reasonably practicable.
'At this early stage it is not in a position to identify the issues that will be considered at the inquest.
Two terrified men were spotted fleeing the Lindt cafe in Martin Place shortly before 3.45pm
Two men, believed to be customers, ran around a corner and hid behind heavily armed police after six hours inside the cafe
A male employee wearing an apron frantically ran out of a side fire exit and hid behind police
‘The state coroner and staff of the coroners court offer their condolences and respects to the bereaved families and friends of the victims of this tragic event.’
Most of the hostages were able to make a break for the exit of the cafe about 2am after the gunman began to fall asleep - more than 16 hours after he took 17 people captive.
Ms Dawson, who leaves behind her husband Paul and their children, Chloe, Sasha and Olive, was having a coffee with a pregnant colleague when the siege unfolded.
Her children were unaware she was involved until Tuesday morning, the Australian reports.
One of the pregnant women in the cafe at the time, Julie Taylor, was also a colleague of Mrs Dawson and had to be treated in hospital following the ordeal.
Lawyer Stefan Balafoutis was one of the first three men to escape the cafe about 3.45pm.
Terrified customers and employees were among those standing with their hands against the window at the Lindt cafe in Sydney
A hostage could be seen pressing their hands up against the window of the cafe
One blonde-haired hostage was pictured inside the cafe through the glass doors standing in the middle of the shop
He works in the 10th Floor Selborne/Wentworth Chambers, which is directly above Lindt.
Dressed in a bright blue blazer, 83-year-old John O’Brian, was the first out of the cafe when he escaped with Mr Balafoutis.
Marcia Mikhail, 42, was among those hostages forced to record a chilling video message listing the hostage-taker's demands.
She was carried out of the cafe by two emergency services workers with blood running down her leg and is still recovering in hospital.
Harriett Denny, a fellow employee, ran from the cafe with five other hostages shortly before police issued their gunfire assault.
The 30-year-old's father who lives in Queensland was forced to watch the horrific incident unfold on TV.
Viswakanth Ankireddy, a software engineer at tech giant Infosys, was working for Westpac in Martin Place when he was caught up in the siege.
Police kept their guns raised on the fire exit after an employee unexpectedly ran from the cafe
Hostages: People could be seen with their hands pressed against the window of the Lindt cafe in Sydney
His Westpac colleague, Puspendu Ghosh, also escaped the siege unharmed.
Jarrod Hoffman, 19, and Fiona Ma were also among the hostages, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Selina Win Pe escaped unharmed after she was also forced to relay demands via a recorded message that were subsequently posted online during the siege.
Ken and Rosemary, the parents of Mr Johnson, who was shot inside the cafe he had run for two years, released a statement on Tuesday.
'We are so proud of our beautiful boy Tori, gone from this earth but forever in our memories as the most amazing life partner, son and brother we could ever wish for.
'We'd like to thank not only our friends and loved ones for their support, but the people of Sydney; Australia and those around the world for reaching out with their thoughts and prayers.'
They also expressed their sorrow for the family of Mrs Dawson.
