Sydney Siege

Sydney siege inquest: Katrina Dawson killed by fragments of police bullets – as it happened: 4 others were hit by police bullets and were lucky to survive. Is this a job well done?

Sydney siege - police

A NSW coroner examines how hostages Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson and gunman Man Haron Monis died in the final, chaotic minutes of December’s siege of the Lindt cafe in Martin Place

Some of what we’ve learned today

  • Man Haron Monis entered the Lindt Cafe at 8:33am on Monday 15 December. He was wearing camouflage pants, a large backpack, and hiding a sawn-off pump-action shotgun.
  • He asked to speak with Tori Johnson, the manager of the cafe. Johnson appeared to become stressed as the two spoke. The doors were locked and Monis stood up to announce: “This is an attack. I have a bomb.”
  • Monis told Johnson to called triple-0 and tell the operator, “This is an attack on Australia by Islamic State.”
  • Monis claimed he was carrying a bomb and had several radio-controlled bombs in place at Martin Place and Circular Quay. No bombs were ever found.
  • Monis had no contact with Islamic State prior to the attacks.
  • He repeatedly threatened to shoot hostages throughout the 16-hour standoff.
  • At 2:14am, “without warning”, Johnson was told to kneel and then shot by Man Haron Monis at close range.
  • His death was “called in” by a police sniper, which triggered a raid on the cafe.
  • Monis fired two shots from his sawn-off shotgun as police entered the building. He was hit at least 13 times in the face and body and died “instantly” while trying to reload his gun.
  • Katrina Dawson was hit by six fragments of police bullets that ricocheted off the walls. One hit a major artery. She died shortly after.
  • Police fired a total of 22 rounds as they stormed the building. Ricochets hit another officer and three hostages, all of who survived.