Siege in Sydney

Tuesday morning marked the end of a 16-hour siege in a local cafe in Sydney, Australia. Central Sydney was in lockdown Monday morning as a gunman entered the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place and seized 17 hostages.

Five of these hostages managed to escape later Monday afternoon. Several more escaped early on Tuesday morning.

• At 9.45 AM local time, police were called to the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney following reports of an armed robbery. Soon after, it emerges that it is a gunman holding a number of people hostage.
• Between 16.00 - 17.00, three men sprint to safety from the cafe's side door, shortly followed by two women.
• Just after 2.00 AM on Tuesday morning more hostages manage to escape. Just after this commandos storm the cafe and the remaining hostages escape.
• At 2.45 AM police officially confirm the end of the siege and later report the deaths of three people, including the gunman.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn would not say whether the gunman had shot the two hostages himself. She said that all the hostages had 'acted courageously'.

The gunman has been identified as Man Haron Monis. He is a self-styled Muslim cleric, and sought asylum in Australia in 1996. Despite having a history of religiously inspired activism, officials say there is as yet, no link to international Islamist movements.

He was convicted of sending offensive letters to families of deceased Australian soliders in 2009. IN 2013, he was charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife but was given bail. He also has faced more than 40 sexual and indecent assault charges.

His website, now closed down, had hosted a series of videos supporting terrorism and blaming rape victims for their attacks.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has questioned why Monis was not on the country's terror watch list. He has said that the government would examine why Monis was given bail.

Abbott says Monis was being monitored by domestic spy agency Asio in 2008 because of the letters but then dropped off watch lists.

"How can someone who has had such a long and chequered history not be on the appropriate watch lists, and how can someone like that be entirely at large in the community?" he asked.

An investigation has been launched into the police operation and the police are also investigating the motives of Monis.

How did an Iranian refugee who already faced multiple criminal charges manage to get a gun?

Under Australian law, pump-action or self-loading shotguns holding five or fewer rounds are strongly restricted. Only farmers, occupational shooters, collectors and some clay target shooters can own them.

Monis had claimed his siege was part of an Islamic State (IS) attack and he forced his captives to hold up what appeared to be a black Islamic banner in the café window.

But exactly what he hoped he would achieve remains unclear and experts say his profile and his actions do not fit the usual criteria applied to terrorists.

Australia's former spy chief David Irvine has raised the alarm about Muslim Australians travelling to Syria and Iraq to fight with IS.

"Lone wolf" terrorists and suicide bombers returning to Australia were a great threat to security, he said in September.

'Monis simply didn't have the standard hallmarks of a terrorist,' says James Brown, Military Fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Policy.

While not underplaying the fear Monis' captives would have experienced, Mr Brown says Monis could have made things much more terrifying.

With a terrorist attack, "you plan to kill as many people as you can to create havoc and fear and you plan for a clear outcome, and to use the hostages for leverage for what you want," he says - all of which stand in contrast to what appeared to be an unplanned and unfocussed attack by Monis.

"The reason people are reaching out to talk about it as an act of terrorism is because IS has put out a call for individuals to carry out such acts."

The final question that some people want answered is why Monis was allowed into the country.

He sought asylum from Iran, citing political persecution by the Iranian government.

It is something Mr Abbott says a joint federal and state government review will examine, along with his successful applications for permanent residency and citizenship.

Police have named the two people who died as barrister Katrina Dawson, 38, and cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34.

Katrina Dawson, 38, had been having coffee with a pregnant colleague when the gunman walked in to the Lindt Chocolat Cafe.

Ms Dawson had three young children with her husband, Paul Smith.

She worked at Eight Selbourne chambers in the Central Business District, not far from the cafe.

The Sydney Morning Herald carried a tribute from Australia's former Governor-General Quentin Bryce, who was the Women's College principal at the University of Sydney when Ms Dawson was studying there as an undergraduate.

"Brilliant mind, joie de vivre spilling over, talented sportswoman, one of those rare natural leaders. Confident, courageous, out-front, articulate, warm and funny, but thoughtful, gentle and understanding too."

Ms Bryce added: "I admired her strength of purpose and character. We knew she had a great future ahead of her, a life of achievement and contribution."

Tori Johnson had worked at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe for two years. Before that he had worked at various restaurants in Sydney and the US.

Police have not confirmed reports in local media that Mr Johnson tried to wrestle the weapon away from the gunman in order to help other hostages escape.

His parents said that their son would live forever in their memories.

"We are so proud of our beautiful boy Tori," their statement said. "The most amazing life partner, son and brother we could ever wish for."

His parents also thanked police, armed forces and emergency services for their "tireless efforts" and the public for their response to the shootings.

"We'd like to thank not only our friends and loved ones for their support, but the people of Sydney; Australia and those around the world for reaching out with their thoughts and prayers," they said.

Tributes to the victims of the siege come in the form of flowers, covering the whole of Martin Place.