[Update: culprit was Man Haron Monis, granted asylum to Australia in 2001 ... a vile antisemitic ndividual who was out on bail despite facing 40 charges of sexual assault! An accessory to the murder of his wife, he had sent poisonous letters to the families of dead Aussie servicemen - hand-delivered at the funerals! The two persons killed. Wikipedia has wasted no time in writing him up. This is believed to be his Twitter page. See also my next post.]
But what his demands are have not been divulged by the station on instructions by police. To date, five hostages have managed to escape. How many remain is unclear. [Two hostages dead, along with the gunman; four injured.]
On social media, a number of leftists who also happen to be dedicated anti-Israel activists have posted conspiracy theories regarding the identity of the hostage-taker. There's a marked reluctance to accept that he's a Muslim. One leftist suggests that he is "a Christian fundamentalist" seeking to pin the blame on Muslims, some allege a political ploy by Tony Abbott to demonise Muslims and win popularity: that sort of thing. I haven't seen any allegations that it is the work of Mossad, or the CIA, but given the intensity of Far Left antisemitism anti-Zionism on there, I wouldn't be at all surprised if such messages come, or have already been posted.
All that seems to be known for sure about the perpetrator is that he's a middle-aged man wearing a headband bearing Arabic writing (saying “We are your soldiers O Muhammad” according to some reports), that he is carrying a backpack, that he is armed, and that he forced two terrified female hostages to display the black Islamic flag in the window. A Muslim leader who is being interviewed as I write describes the use of the flag, with its legend that the only god is Allah and Mohammed is his prophet, as "blasphemous" in the circumstances. He points out that it's not certain as this stage that the perpetrator is a Muslim.
Channel Nine and other television channels I've seen today appear to be bending over backwards to assert that Muslims in Australia generally are not involved in this incident and that they deplore it. They are denouncing "Islamophobia" and talking up the "I will ride with you" hashtag.
And there's this.
On the other hand, the Sydney Daily Telegraph issued, this afternoon, this unsqueamish edition (pictured), and editor Piers Akerman wrote this no-holds-barred article. No political correctness there, obviously.
Various Muslim institutions in New South Wales issued the following press release:
On Facebook, the Online Hate Prevention Institute, which is a Jewish initiative run by Dr Andre Oboler, has issued this statement:
And this one:
All fine and dandy, eh?
But wouldn't it be great if the Online Hate Prevention Institute would (perhaps with the aid of the Muslims for whom it has gone into bat) exert itself in getting Facebook to remove some of the truly despicable antisemitic pages that still defile it.
Pages such as this and the page which produces outright racism:
Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with Australia and the hostages.
ReplyDeleteOn the face of it this person appears to be a Muslim. I would be very surprised if it turned out to be a 'false flag' operation by any kind of Jew or Christian.
Applying the test of 'cui bono', it would be a very misguided non-Muslim who carried out such an attack as there would be no benefit to anyone in any way. However, the Islamic terrorist has achieved, not only terror in Sydney but a certain unease in every similar cafe in the Western World. He has also achieved further separation of Muslim from non-Muslim. We will all wonder about the many Muslims who regularly drink coffee in the city centre cafes such as the one that my wife and I use in Birmingham (UK). From the point of view of an Islamic terrorist all of this is a victory.
It is to be hoped that the Australian authorities are successful in apprehending this individual and without any injury or loss of life. That would be a real victory.
Sadly, not to be, Ian.
DeleteHas the BBC blamed this on the Jews yet? I haven't checked but I expect they will.
ReplyDeleteA good take on it by the ABC religios affairs broadcaster - see my next post.
DeleteNo they haven't. They've reported assorted denunciation but failed to mention the ongoing toleration of extremist views.In other words, they have done what most of your media have done. "Nothing to see here folks.Just a lone nutcase." See Daphne's latest post.
Deletewhat naughty racists we are - how dare we think a monster holding an Islam flag had anything to do with the religion of peace http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/hamad-sydney-siege-confronting-our-anti-islam-backlash/5969636
ReplyDeleteFirstly Tori Johnson's incredible heroism should be applauded by everyone.
ReplyDeleteSecondly NSW have fantastic police
Thirdly I wonder if they're the same Muslim groups who denounced Abbot's counter terrorism laws?
Finally some “#illridewithyou” hashtag hijacks
Hashtag Jamming and the BBC Manufactured and Totally Contrived “#illridewithyou” Nonsense