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Sydney siege inquest: images showing positions of snipers released Sydney siege inquest: images showing positions of snipers released
(about 1 month later)
As the Lindt cafe standoff unfolded over more than 17 hours, three sniper cells deployed in separate locations had high-powered rifles and kept an almost constant watch.As the Lindt cafe standoff unfolded over more than 17 hours, three sniper cells deployed in separate locations had high-powered rifles and kept an almost constant watch.
Images showing the exact positions of the snipers and their estimated lines of sight have been released for the first time.Images showing the exact positions of the snipers and their estimated lines of sight have been released for the first time.
Related: Sydney siege inquest: officer changes evidence about trigger for storming cafe
They show sniper positions maintained in the Westpac, Network Seven and Reserve Bank of Australia buildings on Martin Place throughout the December 2014 siege.They show sniper positions maintained in the Westpac, Network Seven and Reserve Bank of Australia buildings on Martin Place throughout the December 2014 siege.
Some images depict markings identifying the windows of the Lindt cafe, while others show field-of-view analysis.Some images depict markings identifying the windows of the Lindt cafe, while others show field-of-view analysis.
An inquest has heard snipers baulked at shooting gunman Man Haron Monis when they first observed him through a window at about 7.30pm on the first day of the siege, and about 10 hours into the ordeal, because they did not believe the hostages were facing an “immediate” threat.An inquest has heard snipers baulked at shooting gunman Man Haron Monis when they first observed him through a window at about 7.30pm on the first day of the siege, and about 10 hours into the ordeal, because they did not believe the hostages were facing an “immediate” threat.
As Monis remained in the same position for a full 10 minutes, his black bandanna with white Arabic script and “shaved head, bald and shiny” in the sights of snipers, a discussion was had with the deputy tactical commander at the police forward command post.As Monis remained in the same position for a full 10 minutes, his black bandanna with white Arabic script and “shaved head, bald and shiny” in the sights of snipers, a discussion was had with the deputy tactical commander at the police forward command post.
Related: Sydney siege: officer who ordered cafe assault thought 'mates' would not come out alive
Yet, while the head sniper was satisfied the hostages were “under threat of serious injury and were remaining there beyond their will”, he could not be sure the threat was immediate.Yet, while the head sniper was satisfied the hostages were “under threat of serious injury and were remaining there beyond their will”, he could not be sure the threat was immediate.
“All the information and intelligence I gathered didn’t satisfy the immediate part ... that part was missing,” he told an inquest earlier this month. “We weren’t justified in shooting him at that point, so we didn’t.”“All the information and intelligence I gathered didn’t satisfy the immediate part ... that part was missing,” he told an inquest earlier this month. “We weren’t justified in shooting him at that point, so we didn’t.”
It would be seven more hours before they would get another clear view of Monis, just minutes before he shot cafe manager Tori Johnson dead at about 2.13am on 16 December.It would be seven more hours before they would get another clear view of Monis, just minutes before he shot cafe manager Tori Johnson dead at about 2.13am on 16 December.
Monis was killed when police assaulted the building after the gunman executed Johnson, while hostage Katrina Dawson died after being hit by fragments from police rounds.Monis was killed when police assaulted the building after the gunman executed Johnson, while hostage Katrina Dawson died after being hit by fragments from police rounds.
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.