Sydney cafe siege inspired by IS ‘death cult’: Abbott

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared the Sydney cafe siege in which two hostages were killed was inspired by the Islamic State “death cult”. Abbott said the siege was “the act of terror that we hoped would never occur in this country”. “Australia is a peaceful country. We are a beacon of hope and liberty throughout the world,” he said. “And Sydney, our largest city, is so cosmopolitan and diverse that anyone can be at home there.”

That death cult (is) now rampant in much of Syria and Iraq, which is a travesty of religion and governance and which should never be dignified with the term Islamic State.

Tony Abbott, Australian Prime Minister.

Iranian-born Man Haron Monis, a self-styled cleric with a history of extremist views, took 17 people hostage at the Lindt chocolate cafe in the city’s business hub on December 15. The stand-off came to an end some 16 hours later after Monis shot dead cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, prompting police to storm the building and kill him.

Monis threatened to kill people one by one.

Survivors of the deadly Sydney siege standoff.

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