Police storm Sydney cafe where jihadist, murder suspect held hostages

Police toting automatic weapons and lobbing flash grenades stormed a Sydney cafe early Tuesday, bringing to a dramatic end a 16-hour standoff in which a jihadist and murder suspect held an unknown number of hostages in a scene much of the world watched on television.

A series of explosions, believed to be gunshots and flash grenades, came just before 2:30 a.m. local time as several more hostages fled Lindt Chocolat Cafe, where a man identified as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian also known for sending hate mail to the families of fallen soldiers, was holed up with an unknown number of captives. The drama, which began early Monday, appeared to be coming to a dramatic resolution, as frenzied activity enveloped the scene that Australians had been watching on television for hours.

"Police and paramedics have stormed the building," the Sydney Morning Herald reported. "Dozens of continuous bangs and possibly gun shots have lit up the sky."

Several people were taken from the building on stretchers as an alarm rang and police in riot gear moved in and out of the shop, in the heart of Australia's largest city's business district. A bomb disposal robot was seen being deployed in the shop, though police said the standoff was over. It was not clear if anyone was killed or what had happened to the suspect. The handful of hostages seen fleeing as the explosions echoed through the predawn air followed escapes hours earlier by five captives.

Sydney hostages in Lindt coffee shop - terrorists #sydneysiege ( Video )

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SYDNEY - Possible hostages taken by people with " Arabic flag "

SYDNEY - A major police operation was underway in downtown Sydney on Monday, where several people inside a chocolate shop and cafe could be seen through the windows with their hands held in the air.

New South Wales state police would not say what was happening inside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe or whether hostages were being held. But television footage shot through the cafe's windows showed several people with their arms in the air and hands pressed against the glass.

The footage showed two people inside the cafe holding up what appeared to be a black flag with white Arabic writing on it. It was not immediately clear what the flag said. Heavily-armed officers were lined up outside the cafe.

A police spokeswoman said no injuries had been reported from the incident.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the National Security Committee of Cabinet met to be briefed on the situation.

"This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner," Abbott said in a statement.

The cafe is located in Martin Place, a plaza in the heart of the city's financial and shopping district that is packed with holiday shoppers this time of year. It is home to the state premier's office, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the headquarters of two of the nation's largest banks. The state parliament house is a few blocks away.

Streets in the area were closed, offices evacuated and the public told to stay away.

UN calls for "swift and transparent investigation" into death of Palestinian minister

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 Sunday, 14 December 2014 15:27

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Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (right) stands by the coffin during the funeral of Ziad Abu Ein in Ramallah on December 11, 2014

The UN Security Council has called for a "swift and transparent investigation" into the death of a Palestinian minister during a confrontation with Israeli soldiers.

The Palestinian leadership blamed Israel for the "killing" of 55-year-old Ziad Abu Ein, after an Israeli border policeman shoved and grabbed him by the throat during a protest in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned “the brutal assault that led to the martyrdom” of Abu Ein, calling it “a barbaric act that cannot be tolerated or accepted," Abbas said as he announced a three-day mourning period.

A statement issued by the Security Council on Friday "encouraged the parties to ensure that a swift and transparent investigation is undertaken" into the incident.

"The members of the Security Council called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from steps that could further destabilise the situation."

The top United Nations human rights official also expressed his ‘deepest condolences to Ziad Abu Ein’s family and to the people of Palestine' and said the incidents that preceded the Minister’s death are disturbing and must be carefully investigated.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement. ‘I express my deepest condolences to Ziad Abu Ein’s family and to the people of Palestine. It is a terrible and deeply tragic irony that he should die in this way after taking part in a peaceful protest against illegal settlements, centred around the planting of olive trees, on Human Rights Day.’

The Minister's death came on the same day when a Palestinian boy was shot in the head by Israeli officials in the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank.

“This continuous stream of fatal incidents underscores the need for effective accountability measures,” said Zeid.

On Friday, during a phone call with President Abbas, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed his condolences for the death of [senior Palestinian official] Ziad Abu Ein and stressed the importance of continuing peace efforts," Palestine's state-run WAFA news agency reported.

1,000-pound cow escapes slaughterhouse - Cops chase him

POCATELLO, ID - A 1,000-pound cow being prepared for slaughter jumped a 6-foot fence and bolted through the streets of Pocatello before police shot and killed it following a lengthy pursuit.

Pocatello Police Chief Scott Marchand tells the Idaho State Journal that his officers fired two shots at the heifer because it posed a safety risk.

The cow had escaped from Anderson Custom Pack, a meat processing business, on Friday afternoon.

Early in the chase, an officer shot the cow in the head but the wounded animal kept running.

The cow led police and animal control officers on a chase on foot and in vehicles through the city's north side. It rammed an animal control truck and two police cars.

The animal was eventually cornered in a residential backyard about 3 miles away, and was shot and killed by a police officer.

Killing of U.S. woman stirs niqab debate in UAE

Thursday, 4 December 2014

Some local newspapers in the UAE are pondering whether a ban on the Islamic face veil would enhance security after the stabbing of an American woman by a burqa-clad suspect seen on surveillance camera.

On Wednesday, an English-language newspaper, Gulf News, asked: “Should niqab not be worn for security reasons?”

The paper said “the stabbing death of an American school teacher by a niqab-clad assailant in a women’s restroom at an Abu Dhabi mall is drawing mixed reactions across the country as to whether or not the niqab should be worn for security reasons.”

“The niqab crime, and the niqab is a crime,” read one title by columnist Ali bin Tamim on 24.ae website, saying it is time the issue is placed on the negotiations table to discuss its validity, citing “horrendous” crime that happened in Abu Dhabi.

Also read: 

Killing of U.S. woman stirs niqab debate in UAE

Another columnist, Sami al-Riyami for Emarat Alyoum, wrote an article titled “Niqab and extremism or security and moderation.”

Riyami urged the security forces to cover this “void” in the security situation. He said crimes perpetrated by niqab-protected criminals are not only seen in the UAE but in other Muslims countries because of culprits being able to keep their identity withheld.

Three Youths Found Executed in Chihuahua ( one a student )

Three youths were found dead in Chihuahua, which caused great social indignation when it was found out that one of the victims was a student.

The youths were kidnapped last Saturday by an armed group according to reports by authorities of the state.  They were found Thursday morning wrapped up in blankets and with a coup de grâce.

Élmer García was executed along with his brother Edgar Iván García Archuleta and his cousin Gabriel Gándara Archuleta.  The three were from Valle de Juárez.

Élmer García was a student studying psychology at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, and was just days from graduating.  He was greatly recognized by his peers for his leadership by having participated in the Network of Youth Groups, participating as an activist and speaker at various forums addressing insecurity issues.

The death of these young people had a great impact on the university community.

Gabriel Gándara was the brother of Érica Gándara, a police officer who was abducted in 2010 and later murdered, being the only woman in the corporation after 24 police officers were killed during 2008-2010.

Source:El Sol De Nayarit