SYDNEY // Tearful office workers and other grieving Sydney residents laid flowers at the scene of a deadly siege on Tuesday, as victims of the attack were hailed as "heroes".
Florist kiosks struggled to keep up with demand as well-wishers created a huge impromptu memorial, near to the Lindt Cafe where two hostages were killed in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Tori Johnson, the 34-year-old manager of the cafe, and Katrina Dawson, a 38-year-old barrister and mother-of-three were described as heroes “willing to lay down their lives so others might live” in a church service mourning their deaths.
“Reports have emerged this morning of the heroism of the male victim of this siege,” said Archbishop Anthony Fisher, speaking in St Mary’s Cathedral, about 500 metres from the Lindt chocolate cafe.
“Apparently seeing an opportunity, Tori Johnson grabbed the gun. Tragically it went off, killing him, but it triggered the response of the police and eventual freedom for most of the hostages.”
The Archbishop said reports had also emerged that Katrina Dawson was shielding her pregnant friend from gunfire.
“[The] heart of our city is broken by the deaths of two innocents,” he added.
New South Wales deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn did not confirm reports of Johnson’s tussle with the gunman, adding that investigators were still compiling the chain of events that led to the cafe being stormed by heavily-armed police, and the 16-hour siege ending.
The Islamist gunman, Iranian-born Man Haron Monis, also died in the siege at Martin Place, a city square in the heart of Sydney's financial district. Six more people were injured, including three women with gunshot wounds.
Johnson’s parents praised their “beautiful boy” in a statement and called for everyone to “pray for peace on Earth”.
Other details emerged on Tuesday after some of the communications and videos made by the hostages under duress were released.
One hostage had called The Daily Telegraph newspaper during the siege, identifying 50-year-old Monis as “the brother.”
“We’ve got pregnant ladies in here, and we’ve got sick and elderly, and we are very, very tired, and some very young staff who deserve to have a decent, normal life at this point, so get us the hell out of here, please.”
The hostage said the gunman was next to her: “He’s sitting right here, I have you on speaker, I can’t compromise myself and my fellow hostages.”
In a video message, filmed in front of a black Islamic flag similar to those used by extremist Islamist groups, one hostage said her captor had placed bombs around the city — which later turned out not to be true.
The attack by Monis has rocked the country. Sydney tabloid The Daily Telegraph conveyed the national mood with its front-page headline: “Evil Strikes Our Heart”.
Social media was flooded with expressions of fear and dismay, including pictures of the distinctive city harbour and skyline captioned with the hashtag #prayforSydney.
"I will ride with you," read one note attached to a hand-picked bouquet in the city square Martin Place. The phrase refers to a campaign for solidarity with the Muslim community that has seen tens of thousands tweet the hashtag #illridewithyou.
Flags on all government buildings were ordered to be flown at half mast.
“I don’t think I could be sadder,” said New South Wales’ police commissioner, Andrew Scipione, as he looked at the floral tributes where emotional onlookers sobbed.
While the siege was underway, Martin Place attracted curious onlookers. But on Tuesday the mood was sombre as hundreds of people, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, paid their respects and signed condolence books.
“It just doesn’t feel the same today,” said onlooker Terri Lucia. “I just feel that we’ve lost something, something that I felt that we were protected from, and that’s ... so upsetting. I feel we lost our innocence [on Monday].”
Security was stepped up across Sydney, with police increasing patrols at transport hubs, landmarks and places of worship to safeguard the public, including members of the Muslim community.
“Tragically, there are people in our community ready to engage in politically motivated violence,” said Mr Abbott, who raised Australia’s terrorism alert to the highest level in a decade three months ago. “The events in Martin Place also show that we are ready to deal with these people, professionally and with the full force of law.”
In September, police disrupted an alleged plot by ISIL supporters to abduct and behead a member of the public.
The cafe siege at Martin Place was not the work of a terrorist cell, however, but a self-proclaimed sheikh facing dozens of serious charges including involvement in his wife’s murder.
But the shock of the bloodshed — and the death of people who had been going about their ordinary morning ritual of buying a coffee on their way to work — was too much for many on Martin Place.
Mirella Rigo rushed through the crowd of well-wishers to embrace a Muslim woman laying flowers, to show her solidarity with the wider Muslim community.
“It’s heartfelt,” she said. “I think to make them see they are not responsible for this.”
* Agence France-Presse
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
MO
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 112-4 (10 ovs)
Banton 53 no
Northern Warriors 46 all out (9 ovs)
Kumara 3-10, Garton 3-10, Jordan 2-2, Prasanna 2-7
Qalandars win by six wickets
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
SPECS
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