Several civilians have been held hostage by at least one gunman in the heart of Sydney’s central business district. The gunman has been identified by Australian media as Man Haron Monis, a 49-year-old Iranian who arrived in Australia in 1996 as a refugee. Monis has been described as a self-proclaimed Sheikh who was charged in 2013 with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, who was found stabbed and set alight in her apartment complex. The Australian also reported he was charged with sexually and indecently assaulting a young woman in 2002. However, Sky News reports that Monis had been charged with 47 incidents of sexual assault. Monis had claimed to be an expert in meditation, black magic and astrology and sexually assaulted women after they saw advertisements in newspapers for ‘spiritual healing.’ Early images from the attack showed some hostages pressed against the Lindt Chocolat Cafe’s window holding up the Black Standard flag which has been used by extremists connected to terrorist organizations. ABC has reported that the gunman has been identified and is known to police. However, at the request of local authorities, the identity, including the…
Hostage Taker In Sydney Identified As Man Charged With 47 Counts of Sexual Assault
December 15, 2014
