The Down Under Lounge

[Miss Chicken]

I turned on the watch the ABC coverage of this but the ABC is only broadcasting the Channel 7 coverage. The cafe is opposite Channel 7 and Sky TV and that might be why the cafe has been targeted.

It is said that the gunmen want to talk to the PM.

 

[Botany Bay]

Yep, it wouldn't surprise me if setting up next to Channel Seven for maximum terror was their goal.

As a local, what makes this particularly chilling is the fact this is the very area the AFP had intelligence was a credible target, so the police responded. Hard. Since about September, the whole financial district plus the tourist areas of Circular Quay and out to the Opera House and Mrs Macquarie's chair have been heavily patrolled. Hell on my jog most days, I have cops on motorbikes passing me in the Botanic Gardens.

And yet this still happens.

A very calculated, and regrettable to say, effective, piece of terror.

What has happened to this country?

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

It's a scary situation. I remember years ago being there. I got home from doing somethings when i was out. Already read some things on FB. Got one friend who works in that area.

 

[jaz'a]

I was going to write an argument about taxation but doesn't seem so important right now.

Very scary situation.

 

[eyeresist]

I first heard about this via my cabbie this morning.

I wonder if this is connected to the two men charged with terrorist offenses last night?

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/two-men-c...leged-terrorism-offences-20141214-12776c.html

 

[jaz'a]

Apparently there was a raid in western Sydney with one man arrested ten minutes before this all started.

One speculation on the news is that perhaps something got interpreted and this is what they did instead.

Or it could all just be a coincidence. If one person thinks now is a good time to act, it makes sense that others not connected to them are thinking the same thing.

 

[Australis]

Reports coming in that there's about 10 staff and 30 customers

 

[Botany Bay]

So what does it suggest that the guy with the beard hasn't been shot through the glass?

There are more than one of them in there?

They have bombs?

He is a harmless nut who they want to talk out of there?

You just want this over with. God. Those poor people in there.

 

[Australis]

No point in shooting one guy through the glass if there's two or more in there.

There may be bombs, hence evacuation of Opera House.

 

[Commishsleer]

My husband was at a nearby cafe at 9:45 having a meeting when Martin Place was shutdown.
All his colleagues are stuck in their building huddled into a corner away from the windows.
His boss told him to go home but the Harbour Bridge is shutdown. He's stuck in the city.

I was thinking of taking the kids into the city today. Lucky I was too lazy.

 

[Botany Bay]

Phew. At least he's out of there. Thank god he chose the right cafe.

Jogged past there 7am. Business as usual.

Took the kids up to the city at 9 and visited the travel agent just a few blocks from there. If we were still using our old one, we'd have been way too close to it.

That's the last jog I do up there for a while, and the kids aren't going out to the city again this holidays.

Almost irrelevant in these circumstances but budget deficit sits now at over $40bn for FY2015 and GDP is forecast to be a weak 2.5%. Not good news for job seekers. Aussie dollar getting smashed again.

 

[Commishsleer]

Whew you were closer to it than me.
My husbands managed to find a bus home.
We will head to the city but maybe not in the next few days.
Fingers crossed for a happy ending for all involved.

 

[Australis]

Sarah Gerathy
@sarahgerathy

An argument breaks out in crowd watching #sydneysiege after one man goes on anti-Islamic rant. He's told "Muslims are welcome here mate!"

 

[Botany Bay]

Apparently Martin Place office workers are being told to prepare to sleep in the office tonight.

Still no idea what this person's demands are, or if he's acting alone.

We've seen some clear pictures of the guy. Someone must know who he is.

 

[jaz'a]

Not only for the sake of the hostages, but also for the sake of the Muslim Australians do I hope this ends with no bloodshed.

I have witnessed abuse towards them simply because of the actions of IS. Should actual Australian blood be shed, it will only be worse.

 

[Botany Bay]

A couple of terrified hostages just bolted out the door, arms raised.

Sickening stuff.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Were the ones who escaped released?

 

[Botany Bay]

Might have escaped. 3 are out.

There is so little information being given, other than, at this stage, nobody has been harmed, which is a miracle. Let's hope it stays that way.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

YES I am hoping this is some morons and not an orchestrated attack.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I just watched one of the most bizarre videos I have ever seen on YouTube. It was by some sort of conspiracy nut trying to prove the whole siege a hoax.