News Siege In Martin Place, Sydney.

[Philippa]

This just in...https://news.vice.com/article/break...-take-hostages-in-sydney?utm_source=viceanzfb

I know this is just normal for some countries, and in America, hostages and shootings are quite common place, but here....not so much. Hopefully the people involved will be released unharmed.

Police were calling for "responsable journalism" to take place so that there is no speculation that can cause panic. It looks like VICE didn't listen though. [DLMURL]http://junkee.com/keep-calm-and-dont-speculate-how-to-be-helpful-on-social-media-today/47252[/DLMURL]

 

[Seagreen]

I was just reading on facebook. I really wish they would get the media out of there right now.

 

[Rumors]

The news claims it is ISIS. :( Hostage crisis really isn't all that common in the US. Maybe in certain areas like large, large cities but it isn't a norm. Really hope all those held hostage are rescued safely and the perpetrators are brought to justice. Sad.

 

[Philippa]

The news claims it is ISIS. :( Hostage crisis really isn't all that common in the US. Maybe in certain areas like large, large cities but it isn't a norm. Really hope all those held hostage are rescued safely and the perpetrators are brought to justice. Sad.

By hostage crisis in america, I was referring to school shootings, more than "terrorist groups' as such. They are still acts of terror even if it isn't political as such.

 

[Philippa]

I was just reading on facebook. I really wish they would get the media out of there right now.

Yes, I was surprised VICE would be so irresponsable. They are usually quite good. Maybe I'm thinking of their documentaries though?

Still, an Islamic flag of obscure origin has been displayed inside the cafe, but it's a bit of a leap to just assume it is ISIS...even if it might be. At this stage they don't know enough and shouldn't be postulating.

 

[Philippa]

I prefer this report. It sticks to the facts without speculation, though I did notice that someone said it was an ISIS flag. It's hard to know how many different terrorist factions use that flag though. They all believe Allah is the one true god. [DLMURL]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/martin-place-siege-hostages-flag-sydney-cafe-lindt/5967340[/DLMURL]

Whoever is behind this it's scary as all bejeesus. Hopefully the police will be useful and actually do something to stop this...

 

[Seagreen]

All of the comments ive read on facebook links are racially or politically motivated. Im just thinking about the victims. Its been 3 hours and they are all still in there. WTF is going on.

 

[Philippa]

Apparently some people have managed to get out via a ladder from the second storey window, including a baby. Only a handful though at this stage. They must be so scared. Australia isn't...we are babes in the woods when it comes to this kind of thing. We don't carry guns, nor do we usually have to worry about mad people with guns around us. It happens occasionally that someone wigs out with a weapon, but only if you are in the drug scene would you need to think about it. We are so soft compared to other parts of the world.

 

[Seagreen]

I just read the link you provided Philippa. Glad to know some people have escaped. I hope they shut it all down really soon.

 

[The Albatross]

No it is not "normal" in America (yet) but I hope the matter is dealt with without loss of life.

 

[Philippa]

I already posted once that I was speaking about shootings at schools, or generally shootings in shops or on the street...not sieges as such. It's all terrorism at some level. I was hoping my point would be taken the way I meant it, but I guess I could have been much clearer and made disclaimers such as "acts of terrorism perpetuated by actual terrorists as in the islamic kind are not "normal" but shootings of various natures are, somewhat in america."

 

[joeylittle]

The news claims it is ISIS.

Just wanted to say, that claim was redacted. I don't think they know who it is.

And @Philippa, for what it's worth, I understood your meaning in re: terrorism in America compared to Austrailia. We do have hostage situations more and more, it seems. We aren't living in a state of terror anything like some other places (Israel and Palestine come to mind), but I bet our statistics on this kind of event are higher than in AU, per capita.

I really hope everyone gets out of there OK.