IS terrorists in reality TV shaming

Prisoners accused by the Iraqi government of being members of Islamic State confess to their crimes and face victims' families on a reality TV show called In the Grip of the Law. WSJ's Reem Makhoul reports

Facing reality ... Haider Ali Motar, right, performs a scene from "In the Grip of the Law," a reality show produced by Iraqi state TV, as a TV cameraman moves his position in Baghdad, Iraq. Motar was convicted of terrorism charges about a month ago for helping to carry out a string of Baghdad car bombings on behalf of the Islamic State extremist group. Now, the 21-year old is a reluctant cast member in the reality TV show. Picture: AP Photo/Hadi Mizban Source: AP

HAIDER Ali Motar was convicted of terrorism charges about a month ago for helping to carry out a string of Baghdad car bombings on behalf of the Islamic State extremist group. Now, the 21-year old is a reluctant cast member in a popular reality TV show.

In the Grip of the Law, brings convicted terrorists face-to-face with victims in surreal encounters and celebrates the country's beleaguered security forces. The show, produced by state-run Iraqiyya TV, is among dozens of programs, cartoons and musical public service announcements aimed at shoring up support for the troops after their humiliating defeat last summer at the hands of the Islamic State group, which now controls about a third of the country.

Ahmed Hassan, a reality show host, centre right, stands next to Haider Ali Motar, as the TV crew films "In the Grip of the Law," a reality show produced by Iraqi state TV, in Baghdad. Picture: AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Source: AP

On a chilly, overcast day last week, the crew arrived at the scene of one of the attacks for which Motar was convicted, with a heavily armed escort in eight military pick-up trucks and army vehicles. Passing cars clogged the road to watch the drama unfold, but were quickly shooed away by soldiers.

After being pulled from an armoured vehicle, a shackled Motar found himself face-to-face with the seething relatives of the victims of the attack. "Give him to me — I'll tear him to pieces," one of the relatives roared from behind a barbed wire barrier.

Confessions of a terrorist ... A new reality show aims to shame terrorists. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

A cameraman pinned a microphone on Motar's bright yellow prison jumpsuit as he stood alongside a busy Baghdad highway looking bewildered by his surroundings.

"Say something," the cameraman said to him.

"What am I supposed to say?" a visibly panicked Motar asked.

"It's a mic check! Just count: 1,2,3,4 ..."

Once the cameras were rolling, the show's host Ahmed Hassan quizzed the still-shackled prisoner. When Motar was confronted by one of the victims, a young man in a wheelchair who lost his father in one of the attacks, the convict began weeping, as the cameras rolled.

A TV crew member attaches a lavaliere microphone on Haider Ali Motar's yellow prison costume, as Motar performs a scene from "In the Grip of the Law." AP Photo/Hadi Mizban Source: AP

Iraq has seen near-daily car bombs and other attacks for more than a decade, both before and after the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops at the end of 2011. But the central message of the show, the filming of which began last year, is that the security forces will bring perpetrators to justice.

"We wanted to produce a program that offers clear and conclusive evidence, with the complete story, presented and shown to Iraqi audiences," Hassan said. "Through surveillance videos, we show how the accused parked the car, how he blew it up, how he carries out an assassination."

Name and shame ... This TV host interviews terrorists on their motives. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

The episodes often detail the trail of evidence that led security forces to make the arrest. Police allow the camera crew to film the evidence — explosive belts, bomb-making equipment or fingerprints and other DNA samples.

"We show our audiences the pictures, along with hard evidence, to leave no doubts that this person is a criminal and paying for his crimes," Hassan said.

All of the alleged terrorists are shown confessing to their crimes in one-on-one interviews. Hassan said the episodes are only filmed after the men have confessed to a judge, insisting it is "impossible" that any of them are innocent.

"The court first takes a preliminary testimony and then they require a legal confession in front of a judge," Hassan explained. "After obtaining the security and legal permission, we are then allowed to film those terrorists."

Anger ... A man expresses his anger at Haider Ali Motar, as they perform a scene from "In the Grip of the Law," a reality show produced by Iraqi state TV, in Baghdad, Iraq. Picture: AP Photo/Hadi Mizban Source: AP

Human rights groups have long expressed concern over the airing of confessions by prisoners, many of whom have been held incommunicado in secret facilities.

"The justice system is so flawed and the rights of detainees, especially those accused of terrorism (but not only) are so routinely violated that it is virtually impossible to be confident that they would be able to speak freely," Donatella Rovera, of Amnesty International, said in an email.

"In recent months, which I have spent in Iraq, virtually every family I have met who has a relative detained has complained that they do not have access to them, and the same is true for lawyers."

In a September statement, Amnesty cited longstanding concerns about the Iraqi justice system, "where many accused of terrorism have been convicted and sentenced to long prison terms and even to death on the basis of 'confessions" extracted under torture."

Such concerns are rarely if ever aired on Iraqi TV, where wall-to-wall programming exalts the security forces. Singers embedded with the troops sing nationalist songs during commercial breaks. In another popular program, called "The Quick Response," a travelling correspondent interviews soldiers, aiming to put a human face on the struggle against the extremists.

Hated ... "Give him to me — I'll tear him to pieces," one of the relatives of the victims roared from behind a barbed wire barrier. AP Photo/Hadi Mizban Source: AP

Iraqi forces backed by Shiite and Kurdish militias, as well as U.S.-led coalition air strikes, have clawed back some territory following the army's route last summer, when commanders disappeared, calls for reinforcements went unanswered and many soldiers stripped off their uniforms and fled. But around a third of the country — including its second largest city, Mosul — remains under the firm control of militants, and nearly every day brings new bombings in and around the capital.

Back at the makeshift barricade set up for "In the Grip of the Law," security officials insist they are nevertheless sending a message of deterrence.

"Many of these terrorists feel a lot of remorse when they see the victims," said the senior intelligence officer overseeing the shoot, who declined to be named since he often works undercover. "When people see that, it makes them think twice about crossing the law."

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Pakistan to execute 500 terrorists

Pakistan says it has resumed executions of prisoners in the wake of a Taliban massacre at a school that left at least 132 students dead. Mana Rabiee reports.

PAKISTAN plans to execute around 500 militants in coming weeks after the government lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in terror cases following a Taliban school massacre.

Six militants have been hanged since Friday amid rising public anger over the slaughter in the north-western city of Peshawar, which left 149 people dead including 133 children.

After the deadliest terror attack in Pakistani history, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ended the six-year moratorium on the death penalty, reinstating it for terrorism-related cases.

Grief ... Mourners attend the funeral of students killed in the Taliban attack on a school that killed 148 people, mostly children, in Peshawar. Picture: AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad Source: AP

"Interior ministry has finalised the cases of 500 convicts who have exhausted all the appeals, their mercy petitions have been turned down by the president and their executions will take place in coming weeks," a senior government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A second official confirmed the information.

Of the six hanged so far, five were involved in a failed attempt to assassinate the then-military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2003, while one was involved in a 2009 attack on army headquarters. Police, troops and paramilitary Rangers have been deployed across the country and airports and prisons put on red alert as the executions take place and troops intensify operations against Taliban militants in north-western tribal areas.

Remembers ... Pakistanis attend a candlelight vigil around portraits of the victims killed the Taliban attack. Picture: AP Source: AP

Mr Sharif has ordered the attorney general's office to "actively pursue" capital cases currently in the courts, a government spokesman said.

"Prime Minister has also issued directions for appropriate measures for early disposal of pending cases related to terrorism," the spokesman said without specifically confirming the plan to execute 500.

Pakistan has described Tuesday's bloody rampage as its own "mini 9/11", calling it a game-changer in the fight against extremism.

Mother's tears ... a grieving woman cries on the premises of an army-run school in Peshawar, where her son Ali was killed during the massacre by Taliban militants. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

The decision to reinstate executions has been condemned by human rights groups, with the United Nations also calling for it to reconsider.

Human Rights Watch called the executions "a craven politicised reaction to the Peshawar killings" and demanded that no further hangings be carried out.

Pakistan began its de facto moratorium on civilian executions in 2008, but hanging remains on the statute books and judges continue to pass death sentences.

Before Friday's resumption, only one person had been executed since then — a soldier convicted by a court martial and hanged in November 2012.

Massacre ... Chairs are upturned and blood stains the floor inside the Army Public School auditorium after 133 children were gunned down by Taliban gunmen. Picture: AP Source: AP

Meanwhile, Afghan security forces have launched an operation against militants in an eastern province seen as a rear base for the Pakistani Taliban.

Pakistan's army chief met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul in the aftermath of the school attack in the Pakistani city of Peshawar which killed 149 people, mainly children.

The army chief sought Mr Ghani's support in defeating the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

TTP leader Mullah Fazlullah is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan's Kunar province, which borders Pakistan's restive tribal areas.

Mother murdered ... student Mohammad Baqair was injured but survived the attack. His mother, a teacher at the school, was killed by Taliban gunmen. Picture: AP Source: AP

Kunar has been the scene of fierce fighting between local forces and the Afghan Taliban for the past 10 days.

"Afghan security forces have launched a joint anti-militant operations in several parts of Dangam district of Kunar province," Dawlat Waziri, deputy defence ministry spokesman, told AFP.

"So far in the operation, 21 armed insurgents have been killed and 33 others wounded," Mr Waziri said, adding that seven security personnel were wounded.

Kunar governor Shujaul Mulk Jalala said more than 1500 Afghan Taliban fighters attacked remote villages in Dangam.

Taliban offensive ... Female Pakistani police commandos at a police training centre in Nowshera, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Mr Jalala said Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were also battling Afghan security forces in Dangam.

Pakistan has repeatedly asked Afghanistan to capture and hand over Fazlullah. Each nation has long accused the other of allowing militants to shelter in the border region and launch bloody attacks that threaten regional stability.

The Afghan Taliban have stepped up their attacks as NATO wraps up its combat operations, which end on December 31.

A follow-up mission of about 12,500 US-led NATO troops will stay on to train and support Afghan security forces.

Aftermath. a Pakistani army officer stands in front of a wall riddled with bullet marks inside the Army Public School after it was attacked by Taliban gunmen. Picture: AP Source: AP

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‘The heart beats strong in this city’

The former partner of Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis is in custody after her bail was revoked.

THE hundreds of floral tributes for the Sydney siege victims will be removed and a marquee erected ahead of a forecast for rain.

Notes, messages and cards will be preserved when the existing sea of flowers at Martin Place is taken down and composted today.

Nation remembers ... a woman arrives with a bouquet of flowers to add to the floral tributes left in Sydney's Martin place. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

NSW premier Mike Baird said the flowers were being removed after consultation with the families of the victims, and that they will be including in future plans to establish a permanent memorial.

THE PHOTO THAT STOPPED SYDNEY

"Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the floral memorial," wrote Mr Baird.

"The memory of this spontaneous outpouring of love will live with me forever as a powerful reminder of the heart that beats strong in this city," he wrote on Facebook.

Parts of the tribute for Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson will remain under a marquee.

The removal of parts of the memorial has been designed to preserve the messages and not to discourage people from paying their respects at Martin Place, a spokeswoman for the NSW premier said.

Memorial ... the families of victims Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson were consulted over the decision to remove many of the flowers ahead of wet weather, officials said. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

An army of volunteers from the Red Cross, Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service will help collect the flowers while chaplains remain to counsel visitors.

Condolence books will also be available at the Sydney Opera House and NSW Parliament House until the end of January.

Tributes..,people look at the flowers left outside the Lindt cafe in Sydney's Martin Place, one week after a siege at the cafe which saw two hostages and the gunman killed. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

The online condolence book remains available for signing.

They will be bound in several volumes and the Johnson and Dawson families will each receive a copy.

A permanent memorial will be discussed with the families once they are ready.

Financial donations in memory of the two victims have been directed to mental health organisation beyondblue and The Katrina Dawson Foundation.

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Dictionary’s pick for word of the year

Word of the year ... before the word culture exploded, we used to talk about 'society' a lot. Picture: AP/Richard Drew Source: AP

A NATION, a workplace, an ethnicity, a passion, an outsized personality. The people who comprise these things, who fawn or rail against them, are behind Merriam-Webster's 2014 word of the year: culture.

The word joins Oxford Dictionaries' "vape," a darling of the e-cigarette movement, and "exposure," declared the year's winner at Dictionary.com during a time of tragedy and fear due to Ebola.

Merriam-Webster based its pick and nine runners-up on significant increases in lookups this year over last on Merriam-Webster.com, along with interesting, often culture-driven — if you will — spikes of concentrated interest.

POPULAR LINGO: Oxford Dictionaries name 'vape' word of the year

You said it ... 'Culture' joins Oxford Dictionaries' 'vape,' the act of smoking an electronic cigarette. Picture: AFP/Kenzo Tribouillard Source: AFP

In the No 2 spot is "nostalgia," during a year in the US of big 50th anniversaries pegged to 1964: the start of the free speech movement, the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the birth of the Ford Mustang and the British Invasion heralded by the landing of the Beatles on American soil for the first time.

Nostalgia was followed by insidious, legacy, feminism and a rare multiword phrase that can be looked up in total, in a foreign language at that: the French "je ne sais quoi."

The Massachusetts-based dictionary giant filters out perennial favourites when picking word of the year, but does that formula leave them chasing language fads?

Anxiety ... 'exposure' was declared the year's word of the year at Dictionary.com during a time of tragedy and fear due to Ebola. Picture: AFP/Kenzo Tribouillard Source: AFP

"We're simply using the word culture more frequently," said Peter Sokolowski, editor at large for Merriam-Webster. "It may be a fad. It may not. It may simply be evolution."

Mr Sokolowski noted that the reasons words are looked up aren't just about not knowing what they mean. Sometimes, he said, we seek inspiration or a way to check in on ourselves. Of an estimated 100 million lookups on the website each year and a similar number on the company's app, culture enjoyed a 15 per cent year-over-year increase.

Percentage-wise, it doesn't sound like much, but the raw number in that stratosphere is large, Mr Sokolowski said. He wouldn't disclose actual numbers, though, citing the proprietary nature of that data for a company still privately held.

Lexicography ... Merriam-Webster based its pick of word of the year and nine runners-up on significant increases in lookups in 2014. Picture: AP Photo/Stephan Savoia Source: AP

Mr Sokolowski is a lexicographer, not a mind reader, so his observations about why any single word takes off in terms of lookups is well-informed but theoretical.

"The word culture's got a cultural story. We have noticed for years that culture has a cyclic spike every year at around Labour Day. That is to say back to school time during the month of September, so we've been watching this word spike at that time for years," he said. "In recent years we've seen similar spikes at the end of semesters during final [exams]."

But traffic throughout the year indicates that culture is a "chameleon," Mr Sokolowski said. "When you put it next to another word it means something very different. For example, 'consumer culture' or 'rape culture,' which we've been reading about lately."

There's the "culture of transparency" in government and business, and "celebrity culture," and the "culture of winning" in sports, he noted. "It's a word that can be very specific, like 'test prep culture,' or it can be very, very broad, like 'coffee culture.'"

Corporate culture ... a standout reference to culture that caught Peter Sokolowski's eye is from a new book, How Google Works. Source: Supplied

One standout reference that caught Mr Sokolowski's eye in The New Yorker magazine's December issue is from a new book, How Google Works, which includes a description of a software fix by a few engineers that made ads more relevant on the search engine:

"It wasn't Google's culture that turned those five engineers into problem-solving ninjas who changed the course of the company over the weekend," wrote the authors, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and former head of product development Jonathan Rosenberg.

"Rather it was the culture that attracted the ninjas to the company in the first place."

Before the word culture exploded, Mr Sokolowski said, "we used to talk about 'society' a lot. Certain groups are taking 'society' out of their names now. It seems to be receding. Part of that seems to be because it's elitist. We're using the word culture more frequently in that place."

Not all lookup spikes are quite that complex. The reason "je ne sais quoi" landed at No 6, for instance, is "dead simple," he said.

'Insidious' ... lookups of the word spiked when a Texas hospital released a statement on the death of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first confirmed Ebola patient in the United States. Picture: AP/Wilmot Chayee Source: AP

A US fast-food drive-in chain named Sonic, known for TV spots featuring two goofy dudes eating in a car, had them munching on boneless chicken wings in September.

"I've finally found myself a wingman," goofy guy No 1 says of the chicken wings he hopes will make him a chick magnet.

"Oh right," sneers goofy guy No 2, "gonna give you that certain je ne sais quoi."

Responds No. 1: "Jenna said what?"

They mine the word play a couple more times, but you get the picture.

"Since September when this ad came out this word has been close to the Top 10 or in the Top 10 of our lookups almost every single day," Mr Sokolowski said.

Fast-food aside, he called this year's list a relatively sober one.

Insidious, for example, received a bump early in the year when a new trailer was released for Insidious: Chapter 3, a prequel in the horror film franchise Insidious, out in June. The word surfaced in a big way again, on October 8, when a Texas hospital released a statement on the death of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first confirmed Ebola patient in the United States.

The statement spoke of his courageous battle and the hospital's profound sadness when he "succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola."

Rounding out the Top 10 are innovation, surreptitious, autonomy and morbidity.

"This is a fairly sober list. It was a fairly sober year," he concluded.

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Martin Place cafe siege: Police name gunman

Sydney remains in the grip of terror tonight. Up to 15 hostages are being held at gun point in the heart of the city.

Several people appear to have fled from a Sydney cafe where up to 50 hostages are being held by a gunman.

Staff and customers hold up what is believed to be a jihadist flag up against the window of the Lindt cafe. Source: Channel 7

The latest live news coverage and commentary from Australia's No. 1 media company. Stream 1

• Numerous hostages have left the Lindt cafe in Martin Place
• Police stormed the cafe and multiple shots were fired
• It is unclear what prompted the police to go in

LIVE: TWO people have reportedly been killed - one believed to be the gunman - in the Martin Place cafe siege after police stormed the location. As a result, the Lindt cafe siege is over.

Sky News reports at least four hostages have been injured, perhaps three critically, but their condition is unknown. Two of those required CPR at the scene. Meanwhile, a police officer has been injured with an amount of blood streaming from his head, Sky reports.

Hostages run for their lives Source: AP

Sky said there were unconfirmed reports of two fatalities, one of which is believed to be the gunman. Some of the injured have been taken to St Vincent's hospital.

Shortly before 2.45am (AEDT), police confirmed the siege was over.

Hostages fled from the Sydney cafe where a gunman had been holding an unknown number of people for more than 16 hours.

An Associated Press photographer near the scene heard a loud bang and saw five or six hostages running out of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in downtown Sydney early this morning.

A hostage being carried out Source: Supplied

A group of hostages ran from central Sydney's Lindt cafe where a gunman was holed up with as many as 15 others.

Television footage initially showed a man running from the eatery with his arms raised, shortly after 2am (AEDT), before being patted down by police and escorted to safety.

Minutes later, two more men and two women raced outside and were directed away by police.

Their escape was followed by 10 seconds of rapid gunfire as heavily-armed police stormed the cafe in numbers, managing to release others.

A woman, apparently middle-aged, was carried from the scene injured.

A second volley of shots erupted before the cafe filled with police and paramedics.

A number of stretchers were wheeled into the building, however, it was unclear how many people may have been injured.

According to unconfirmed reports aired by Sky News, at least four people were injured.

There was no word on the fate of the gunman, earlier identified as 50-year-old self-styled sheik Man Haron Monis.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal robot was sent into the cafe by police.

More hostages make a run for it. Source: Supplied

A man in a white shirt came out of the cafe first with his arms raised. He dropped to the floor and was searched by police before being whisked away.

A man emerges from the cafe. Source: Supplied

Police have authorised the naming of 'Sheik' Man Haron Monis, who is a self-styled preacher of Islamic State on bail for accessory to murder, as the gunman who was holding 15 terrified hostages in Sydney's Lindt cafe.

Haron was also charged this year with indecent and sexual assault of women in 2002. Monis was hit with an additional 40 charges in October.

The 49-year-old, originally from Iran who now lives in southwest Sydney, had previously sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers, calling them murderer, The Daily Telegraph says.

He had a sawn-off shotgun and was a fringe Islamist, The Australian and Sky News reports.

'Sheik' Man Haron Monis Source: News Corp Australia

'Sheik' Man Haron Monis leaves Downing Centre Court after pleading guilty to sending offensive letters to families of dead Diggers. Source: News Limited

'Hate sheik' Man Horan Monis and girlfriend Amirzh Droudis granted bail

- with AAP

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Hostages flee Sydney city siege

Sydney remains in the grip of terror tonight. Up to 15 hostages are being held at gun point in the heart of the city.

Several people appear to have fled from a Sydney cafe where up to 50 hostages are being held by a gunman.

Staff and customers hold up what is believed to be a jihadist flag up against the window of the Lindt cafe. Source: Channel 7

The latest live news coverage and commentary from Australia's No. 1 media company. Stream 1

• Numerous hostages have left the Lindt cafe in Martin Place
• Police stormed the cafe and multiple shots were fired
• It is unclear what prompted the police to go in

LIVE: TWO people have reportedly been killed - one believed to be the gunman - in the Martin Place cafe siege after police stormed the location. As a result, the Lindt cafe siege is over.

Sky News reports at least four hostages have been injured, perhaps three critically, but their condition is unknown. Two of those required CPR at the scene. Meanwhile, a police officer has been injured with an amount of blood streaming from his head, Sky reports.

Hostages run for their lives Source: AP

Sky said there were unconfirmed reports of two fatalities, one of which is believed to be the gunman. Some of the injured have been taken to St Vincent's hospital.

Shortly before 2.45am (AEDT), police confirmed the siege was over.

Hostages fled from the Sydney cafe where a gunman had been holding an unknown number of people for more than 16 hours.

An Associated Press photographer near the scene heard a loud bang and saw five or six hostages running out of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in downtown Sydney early this morning.

A hostage being carried out Source: Supplied

A group of hostages ran from central Sydney's Lindt cafe where a gunman was holed up with as many as 15 others.

Television footage initially showed a man running from the eatery with his arms raised, shortly after 2am (AEDT), before being patted down by police and escorted to safety.

Minutes later, two more men and two women raced outside and were directed away by police.

Their escape was followed by 10 seconds of rapid gunfire as heavily-armed police stormed the cafe in numbers, managing to release others.

A woman, apparently middle-aged, was carried from the scene injured.

A second volley of shots erupted before the cafe filled with police and paramedics.

A number of stretchers were wheeled into the building, however, it was unclear how many people may have been injured.

According to unconfirmed reports aired by Sky News, at least four people were injured.

There was no word on the fate of the gunman, earlier identified as 50-year-old self-styled sheik Man Haron Monis.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal robot was sent into the cafe by police.

More hostages make a run for it. Source: Supplied

A man in a white shirt came out of the cafe first with his arms raised. He dropped to the floor and was searched by police before being whisked away.

A man emerges from the cafe. Source: Supplied

Police have authorised the naming of 'Sheik' Man Haron Monis, who is a self-styled preacher of Islamic State on bail for accessory to murder, as the gunman who was holding 15 terrified hostages in Sydney's Lindt cafe.

Haron was also charged this year with indecent and sexual assault of women in 2002. Monis was hit with an additional 40 charges in October.

The 49-year-old, originally from Iran who now lives in southwest Sydney, had previously sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers, calling them murderer, The Daily Telegraph says.

He had a sawn-off shotgun and was a fringe Islamist, The Australian and Sky News reports.

'Sheik' Man Haron Monis Source: News Corp Australia

'Sheik' Man Haron Monis leaves Downing Centre Court after pleading guilty to sending offensive letters to families of dead Diggers. Source: News Limited

'Hate sheik' Man Horan Monis and girlfriend Amirzh Droudis granted bail

- with AAP

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Sydney siege: What we know

Sydney's Lindt cafe siege is described by NSW police commissioner Andrew Scipione as a hostage situation with one armed offender and an undisclosed number of hostages.

An image of the man suspected of being behind the continuing siege at a Sydney cafe. Source: Channel 7

AUSTRALIA has been rocked by a possible terrorist attack, with staff and customers taken hostage in a cafe in Sydney's centre.

As rumour and speculation swirls around the incident, here's a breakdown of what we know and what we don't.

Plain Clothes detectives entering the crime scene right near the shop with the hostages in it. Picture: Gordon McComiskie Source: News Corp Australia

WHAT WE KNOW

● Fifteen hostages are being held by an armed man in the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place

● Police have authorised the naming of the gunman. He is Sheik Man Haron Monis, who is a self-styled preacher of Islamic State on bail for accessory to murder.

● The day he was granted bail last November at Penrith Local Court.

● Police were alerted to the incident about 9.45am (yesterday) when a woman saw a man outside the cafe with a blue sports bag that appeared to contain a gun

● Five hostages have escaped the cafe, three of whom appeared to be Lindt employees. One male hostage has been treated at St Vincent's Hospital. A spokesman would not comment on his condition but said "he is fine"

● NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said officers were focused only on Martin Place: "We're not concerned at this stage with any other (location)"

The moment when three hostages emerged from the Lindt Cafe, during a siege in Sydney's Martin Place. Source: Channel 7

Hostages hold up a black and white flag, believed to be a banner often used by jihadists. Source: Channel 7

● The hostages held a flag up to the window known as The Black Standard, which has been used as a symbol by Islamic extremists

● Police are working hard to remove any social media posts which identify the hostages or the hostage-taker's demands

● Police said workers outside of the exclusion zone bordered by Hunter, Pitt, King and Elizabeth streets in the Sydney CBD were OK to travel home via public transport as usual. Martin Place railway station remains closed

● Nobody is believed to have been harmed

● Police have erected a large black shield to cover the corner of the Lindt store from view; at least 100 police and tactical units are stationed in Martin Place

● Airspace in Sydney is open but some flights are being diverted around the CBD, according to Qantas

● Police handcuffed a man 200m from the cafe siege but a police statement has since clarified the arrest was not related to the siege.

Tactical police have been called in to deal with the continuing siege. Picture: AP Photo/Rob Griffith Source: AP

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

● We cannot confirm the motivation of the hostage-taker, nor what he is trying to achieve. It has not been confirmed whether the incident is related to terrorism, but NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said officers had "moved to a footing consistent with a terrorism event"

● We do not know if the gunman has any explosives

● We do not know if the hostage-taker is acting alone. "We know it's at least one," the commissioner said.

● Commissioner Scipione said police were in communication with the gunman but refused to reveal how. "Suffice to say we have got contact with him," he told media.

● The commissioner also declined to confirm whether the five who had fled the cafe had escaped or been released.

● We don't know exactly how many people have been held hostage. Some reports suggest there could be as few at 13, while the Lindt chief executive officer told news.com.au there could be 40 to 50 people held inside, including staff and customers. However, a police spokeswoman indicated there were fewer than 30.

Hostages were pushed up against the windows in the Lindt cafe. Source: Channel 7

Keep up to date with this unfolding story here.

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Martin Place cafe siege: Police name gunman

Sydney remains in the grip of terror tonight. Up to 15 hostages are being held at gun point in the heart of the city.

Several people appear to have fled from a Sydney cafe where up to 50 hostages are being held by a gunman.

Staff and customers hold up what is believed to be a jihadist flag up against the window of the Lindt cafe. Source: Channel 7

The latest live news coverage and commentary from Australia's No. 1 media company. Stream 1

• Numerous hostages have left the Lindt cafe in Martin Place
• Police stormed the cafe and multiple shots were fired
• It is unclear what prompted the police to go in

LIVE: TWO people have reportedly been killed - one believed to be the gunman - in the Martin Place cafe siege after police stormed the location. As a result, the Lindt cafe siege is over.

Sky News reports at least four hostages have been injured, perhaps three critically, but their condition is unknown. Two of those required CPR at the scene. Meanwhile, a police officer has been injured with an amount of blood streaming from his head, Sky reports.

Hostages run for their lives Source: AP

Sky said there were unconfirmed reports of two fatalities, one of which is believed to be the gunman. Some of the injured have been taken to St Vincent's hospital.

Shortly before 2.45am (AEDT), police confirmed the siege was over.

Hostages fled from the Sydney cafe where a gunman had been holding an unknown number of people for more than 16 hours.

An Associated Press photographer near the scene heard a loud bang and saw five or six hostages running out of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in downtown Sydney early this morning.

A hostage being carried out Source: Supplied

A group of hostages ran from central Sydney's Lindt cafe where a gunman was holed up with as many as 15 others.

Television footage initially showed a man running from the eatery with his arms raised, shortly after 2am (AEDT), before being patted down by police and escorted to safety.

Minutes later, two more men and two women raced outside and were directed away by police.

Their escape was followed by 10 seconds of rapid gunfire as heavily-armed police stormed the cafe in numbers, managing to release others.

A woman, apparently middle-aged, was carried from the scene injured.

A second volley of shots erupted before the cafe filled with police and paramedics.

A number of stretchers were wheeled into the building, however, it was unclear how many people may have been injured.

According to unconfirmed reports aired by Sky News, at least four people were injured.

There was no word on the fate of the gunman, earlier identified as 50-year-old self-styled sheik Man Haron Monis.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal robot was sent into the cafe by police.

More hostages make a run for it. Source: Supplied

A man in a white shirt came out of the cafe first with his arms raised. He dropped to the floor and was searched by police before being whisked away.

A man emerges from the cafe. Source: Supplied

Police have authorised the naming of 'Sheik' Man Haron Monis, who is a self-styled preacher of Islamic State on bail for accessory to murder, as the gunman who was holding 15 terrified hostages in Sydney's Lindt cafe.

Haron was also charged this year with indecent and sexual assault of women in 2002. Monis was hit with an additional 40 charges in October.

The 49-year-old, originally from Iran who now lives in southwest Sydney, had previously sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers, calling them murderer, The Daily Telegraph says.

He had a sawn-off shotgun and was a fringe Islamist, The Australian and Sky News reports.

'Sheik' Man Haron Monis Source: News Corp Australia

'Sheik' Man Haron Monis leaves Downing Centre Court after pleading guilty to sending offensive letters to families of dead Diggers. Source: News Limited

'Hate sheik' Man Horan Monis and girlfriend Amirzh Droudis granted bail

- with AAP

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Siege gunman is ‘sheik’ on bail

Sydney remains in the grip of terror tonight. Up to 15 hostages are being held at gun point in the heart of the city.

SELF-styled sheik and Islamic State preacher Man Haron Monis, who was on bail for accessory to murder, is the gunman who was last night holding 15 terrified hostages in Sydney's Lindt cafe.

The fate of those people was still hanging in the balance after a day of unprecedented horror in Sydney's heart, with the first extremist attack on NSW soil.

Sheik Man Haron Monis. Source: News Corp Australia

The 49-year-old, originally from Iran who now lives in southwest Sydney, had previously sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers, calling them murderers, and earlier this year was charged with sexual assault.

Armed with a shotgun and a flag linked to extremist groups, the radical Islamic preacher burst into the cafe at 9.45am, taking up to 20 hostages. Just five had escaped by midnight.

As workers in nearby buildings were evacuated or ordered away from windows and heavily armed police moved into Martin Place, the hostages were used as human shields for Monis, forced to stand at the window and hold the Islamic flag bearing the words: "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger".

Sheik Man Haron Monis leaves Downing Centre Court after pleading guilty to sending offensive letters to families of dead Diggers. Source: News Limited

In a chilling phone call to The Daily Telegraph from inside the cafe, one hostage said the gunman was standing beside her — listening via speaker phone — as she referred to him as "The Brother". She said at least one fellow hostage is pregnant.

Muslim leaders yesterday spoke out to condemn the attack.

Monis, who arrived in Australia as a refugee in 1996, has been charged with being an accessory before and after the fact to the murder of his ex-wife, allegedly stabbed and set alight in a stairwell of her Sydney apartment complex last year.

Sheik Man Haron Monis. Source: News Corp Australia

His current partner was charged with murder. The couple was given bail in Penrith Local Court, with Magistrate Darryl Pearce saying the Crown's case was weak. Then in March this year Monis was charged with sexually and indecently assaulting a young woman for "spiritual healing" in 2002.

One theory being investigated yesterday was the Lindt cafe was not his primary target and he rushed in there after being spooked by members of the public who alerted police to his behaviour.

He was known to national security agencies, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

The hostages who fled the cafe yesterday were helping police, with one — a barista — taken to hospital to be treated for an existing medical condition. He later left in an unmarked police car with a jacket over his head.

Originally published as Siege gunman is 'sheik' on bail

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Martin Place cafe siege over as police name gunman

Sydney remains in the grip of terror tonight. Up to 15 hostages are being held at gun point in the heart of the city.

Several people appear to have fled from a Sydney cafe where up to 50 hostages are being held by a gunman.

Staff and customers hold up what is believed to be a jihadist flag up against the window of the Lindt cafe. Source: Channel 7

The latest live news coverage and commentary from Australia's No. 1 media company. Stream 1

• Numerous hostages have left the Lindt cafe in Martin Place
• Police stormed the cafe and multiple shots were fired
• It is unclear what prompted the police to go in

LIVE: TWO people have reportedly been killed - one believed to be the gunman - in the Martin Place cafe siege after police stormed the location. As a result, the Lindt cafe siege is over.

Sky News reports at least four hostages have been injured, perhaps three critically, but their condition is unknown. Two of those required CPR at the scene. Meanwhile, a police officer has been injured with an amount of blood streaming from his head, Sky reports.

Hostages run for their lives Source: AP

Sky said there were unconfirmed reports of two fatalities, one of which is believed to be the gunman. Some of the injured have been taken to St Vincent's hospital.

Shortly before 2.45am (AEDT), police confirmed the siege was over.

Hostages fled from the Sydney cafe where a gunman had been holding an unknown number of people for more than 16 hours.

An Associated Press photographer near the scene heard a loud bang and saw five or six hostages running out of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in downtown Sydney early this morning.

A hostage being carried out Source: Supplied

A group of hostages ran from central Sydney's Lindt cafe where a gunman was holed up with as many as 15 others.

Television footage initially showed a man running from the eatery with his arms raised, shortly after 2am (AEDT), before being patted down by police and escorted to safety.

Minutes later, two more men and two women raced outside and were directed away by police.

Their escape was followed by 10 seconds of rapid gunfire as heavily-armed police stormed the cafe in numbers, managing to release others.

A woman, apparently middle-aged, was carried from the scene injured.

A second volley of shots erupted before the cafe filled with police and paramedics.

A number of stretchers were wheeled into the building, however, it was unclear how many people may have been injured.

According to unconfirmed reports aired by Sky News, at least four people were injured.

There was no word on the fate of the gunman, earlier identified as 50-year-old self-styled sheik Man Haron Monis.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal robot was sent into the cafe by police.

More hostages make a run for it. Source: Supplied

A man in a white shirt came out of the cafe first with his arms raised. He dropped to the floor and was searched by police before being whisked away.

A man emerges from the cafe. Source: Supplied

Police have authorised the naming of 'Sheik' Man Haron Monis, who is a self-styled preacher of Islamic State on bail for accessory to murder, as the gunman who was holding 15 terrified hostages in Sydney's Lindt cafe.

Haron was also charged this year with indecent and sexual assault of women in 2002. Monis was hit with an additional 40 charges in October.

The 49-year-old, originally from Iran who now lives in southwest Sydney, had previously sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers, calling them murderer, The Daily Telegraph says.

He had a sawn-off shotgun and was a fringe Islamist, The Australian and Sky News reports.

'Sheik' Man Haron Monis Source: News Corp Australia

'Sheik' Man Haron Monis leaves Downing Centre Court after pleading guilty to sending offensive letters to families of dead Diggers. Source: News Limited

'Hate sheik' Man Horan Monis and girlfriend Amirzh Droudis granted bail

- with AAP

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