Sydney hostage drama grips Australia
Tue, Dec 16, 2014
in SYDNEY
A lone gunman kept terrified staff and customers captive into the night yesterday in a downtown Sydney cafe, brandishing an Islamic flag, as five of his hostages managed to flee for their lives.
The pre-Christmas siege of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe triggered a security lockdown in an area of Australia’s biggest city that houses several government and corporate headquarters, as hundreds of armed police surrounded the site.
The government said there was no clear motivation, but the flag appeared to be one commonly used by jihadist groups bearing the Shahada, or profession of faith in Islam.
More than 40 Australian Muslim groups jointly condemned the siege and the use of the flag, which they said had been hijacked by “misguided individuals that represent no-one but themselves.”
“We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being or to instill fear and terror into their hearts,” they said in a statement.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott convened a national security meeting to deal with the “disturbing” development.
About six hours into the siege, three men emerged from the popular cafe and ran from the building, two from the front door and one from an emergency exit.
About an hour later two distraught women also fled. It was not clear if they escaped or were released.
Structure of the Lead：
WHO-A lone gunman
WHEN-yesterday night
WHAT-A lone gunman kept terrified staff and customers captive
WHY-not given
WHERE-i
HOW-not given
Keywords：
1. captive:俘虜
2. hijack：劫持
3. distraught ：悲痛欲絕
4. headquarter：總部
5. instill ：灌輸
6. misguide：誤導
7. flee：逃離
8. condemn：譴責
It is so terrible!
回覆刪除i hope it will not happen again!
回覆刪除The murder should be sentenced !
回覆刪除