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| Who are Australia's radicalised Muslims? | Who are Australia's radicalised Muslims? |
| (17 days later) | |
| On 15 December, self-styled Muslim cleric Man Haron Monis held several people hostage in the Lindt Chocolat Cafe at Sydney's Martin Place. The 16-hour stand-off ended with police commandos storming the cafe. Two hostages and Monis died. | On 15 December, self-styled Muslim cleric Man Haron Monis held several people hostage in the Lindt Chocolat Cafe at Sydney's Martin Place. The 16-hour stand-off ended with police commandos storming the cafe. Two hostages and Monis died. |
| Monis was known to police and faced a raft of criminal charges, but as yet no evidence has been cited showing direct links to Islamist militant movements. | Monis was known to police and faced a raft of criminal charges, but as yet no evidence has been cited showing direct links to Islamist militant movements. |
| But the incident follows months of concern over the effect on Australia's domestic security of those who fight for, or sympathise with, militant Islamist groups in Iraq and Syria. | But the incident follows months of concern over the effect on Australia's domestic security of those who fight for, or sympathise with, militant Islamist groups in Iraq and Syria. |
| So who are the radicalised members of Australia's Muslim community and how large is the problem? The BBC explains. | So who are the radicalised members of Australia's Muslim community and how large is the problem? The BBC explains. |
| How serious is the problem? | How serious is the problem? |
| Authorities are concerned about a minority of Australia's small Muslim community. | Authorities are concerned about a minority of Australia's small Muslim community. |
| They have said that about 70 Australians are fighting with extremist groups in Syria and northern Iraq. Another 20 have returned to Australia after fighting in those places. | They have said that about 70 Australians are fighting with extremist groups in Syria and northern Iraq. Another 20 have returned to Australia after fighting in those places. |
| Spy chief David Irvine, the director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, said in August that about 15 Australians had been killed so far in these conflicts, including two suicide bombers. | Spy chief David Irvine, the director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, said in August that about 15 Australians had been killed so far in these conflicts, including two suicide bombers. |
| He also said 100 or more people within Australia were "actively supporting" militant groups by recruiting new fighters, grooming suicide-bombing candidates, and providing funds and equipment to militants. | He also said 100 or more people within Australia were "actively supporting" militant groups by recruiting new fighters, grooming suicide-bombing candidates, and providing funds and equipment to militants. |
| Who are the Australian jihadists? | Who are the Australian jihadists? |
| Terrorism expert Clive Williams of the Australian National University says Australian jihadists are Sunni Muslims, the branch of Islam which the Islamic State (IS) follows. | Terrorism expert Clive Williams of the Australian National University says Australian jihadists are Sunni Muslims, the branch of Islam which the Islamic State (IS) follows. |
| Studies have shown that more than half of those who have embraced radicalism were born in Australia and about 60% are of Lebanese heritage. | Studies have shown that more than half of those who have embraced radicalism were born in Australia and about 60% are of Lebanese heritage. |
| Most were married with children, and were not particularly religious prior to believing in extreme Islamic ideologies. | Most were married with children, and were not particularly religious prior to believing in extreme Islamic ideologies. |
| What about specific individuals? | What about specific individuals? |
| Some details are known. Local media have also described Mohammad Ali Baryalei, a former Sydney bouncer, as Australia's most senior IS member. | Some details are known. Local media have also described Mohammad Ali Baryalei, a former Sydney bouncer, as Australia's most senior IS member. |
| On 29 October, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the government was trying to confirm a report that he had been killed in Syria. | On 29 October, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the government was trying to confirm a report that he had been killed in Syria. |
| Arrest warrants were issued in July for two IS fighters, Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar. | Arrest warrants were issued in July for two IS fighters, Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar. |
| Sharrouf was one of eight people arrested for plotting to attack the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney. He was jailed in 2008 and served four years. In December, he slipped out of the country using his brother's passport. | Sharrouf was one of eight people arrested for plotting to attack the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney. He was jailed in 2008 and served four years. In December, he slipped out of the country using his brother's passport. |
| On 21 October, a video emerged of an Australian teenager who had joined IS threatening attacks on PM Tony Abbott, the US and the UK. | On 21 October, a video emerged of an Australian teenager who had joined IS threatening attacks on PM Tony Abbott, the US and the UK. |
| The 17-year-old, named as Abdullah Elmir but who calls himself Abu Khaled, was believed be in Syria. He later appeared in a second video. | The 17-year-old, named as Abdullah Elmir but who calls himself Abu Khaled, was believed be in Syria. He later appeared in a second video. |
| Man Haron Monis, the gunman responsible for the 15 December Sydney cafe siege, was born in Iran and sought asylum in Australia in 1996, later styling himself as a Muslim cleric and "spiritual healer". | Man Haron Monis, the gunman responsible for the 15 December Sydney cafe siege, was born in Iran and sought asylum in Australia in 1996, later styling himself as a Muslim cleric and "spiritual healer". |
| The 50-year-old faced multiple criminal charges. Officials are still investigating his exact motive for taking hostages. | The 50-year-old faced multiple criminal charges. Officials are still investigating his exact motive for taking hostages. |
| Profile: Man Haron Monis | Profile: Man Haron Monis |
| What do we know about their activities? | What do we know about their activities? |
| The problem caught national attention earlier this year as conflicts in Iraq and Syria intensified. | The problem caught national attention earlier this year as conflicts in Iraq and Syria intensified. |
| In July an 18-year-old from Melbourne blew himself and several others up in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq. Authorities said he was the second Australian suicide bomber. | In July an 18-year-old from Melbourne blew himself and several others up in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq. Authorities said he was the second Australian suicide bomber. |
| Images then emerged of Sharrouf and another Australian IS fighter brandishing the severed heads of what appeared to be Syrian government soldiers. A young boy presumed to be Sharrouf's son was holding a head in one image. | Images then emerged of Sharrouf and another Australian IS fighter brandishing the severed heads of what appeared to be Syrian government soldiers. A young boy presumed to be Sharrouf's son was holding a head in one image. |
| In September, authorities raided an Islamic centre in Brisbane, Queensland, arresting two men believed to have been recruiting people to fight in Syria. One was believed to be the brother of Abu Asma al Australia, said to be the first Australian suicide bomber to die in Syria. | In September, authorities raided an Islamic centre in Brisbane, Queensland, arresting two men believed to have been recruiting people to fight in Syria. One was believed to be the brother of Abu Asma al Australia, said to be the first Australian suicide bomber to die in Syria. |
| On 12 September, Australia raised its terror threat level from medium to high - meaning that an attack was likely. This was followed a week later by terror raids linked to an apparent plot to kill members of the public selected at random, linked to an intercepted phone call involving Mohammad Ali Baryalei. | On 12 September, Australia raised its terror threat level from medium to high - meaning that an attack was likely. This was followed a week later by terror raids linked to an apparent plot to kill members of the public selected at random, linked to an intercepted phone call involving Mohammad Ali Baryalei. |
| What is the government doing? | What is the government doing? |
| In early October, Australia joined the US-led coalition carrying out raids on IS sites, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying it was a "death cult" that must be stopped. | In early October, Australia joined the US-led coalition carrying out raids on IS sites, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying it was a "death cult" that must be stopped. |
| A first set of national security measures including tougher restrictions on media reporting of special intelligence operations was passed in early October. | A first set of national security measures including tougher restrictions on media reporting of special intelligence operations was passed in early October. |
| The second phase, anti-terror legislation to target home-grown extremists, passed later that month. | The second phase, anti-terror legislation to target home-grown extremists, passed later that month. |
| Mr Abbott said the legislation would make it easier to "charge and to prosecute people who have been engaged in terrorist activities overseas". It would also make it harder for Australians to travel to certain countries without a valid reason. | Mr Abbott said the legislation would make it easier to "charge and to prosecute people who have been engaged in terrorist activities overseas". It would also make it harder for Australians to travel to certain countries without a valid reason. |
| How has the Muslim community in Australia reacted? | How has the Muslim community in Australia reacted? |
| Australia's mostly overseas-born Muslim community makes up just 2.2% of the country's population, according to the 2011 census. | |
| Prominent community representatives have condemned extremist violence. The Grand Mufti - the top Muslim religious authority in the country - told Fairfax Media: "We are the first ones to oppose anyone who may think of harming Australian society." | Prominent community representatives have condemned extremist violence. The Grand Mufti - the top Muslim religious authority in the country - told Fairfax Media: "We are the first ones to oppose anyone who may think of harming Australian society." |
| But they have also criticised the Australian government's anti-terror laws, saying they would restrict freedoms and harm relations with the Muslim community. | But they have also criticised the Australian government's anti-terror laws, saying they would restrict freedoms and harm relations with the Muslim community. |
| They have raised concerns that Australia's military involvement in Middle East conflicts would stoke radicalisation at home. And campaigners have also reported a rise in verbal or physical attacks on Muslims in recent months. | They have raised concerns that Australia's military involvement in Middle East conflicts would stoke radicalisation at home. And campaigners have also reported a rise in verbal or physical attacks on Muslims in recent months. |
| The Grand Mufti and the Australian National Imams Council issued a joint statement condemning the 15 December Sydney cafe siege, saying they did not know the motivation of the hostage-taker but that "such actions are denounced in part and in whole in Islam". | The Grand Mufti and the Australian National Imams Council issued a joint statement condemning the 15 December Sydney cafe siege, saying they did not know the motivation of the hostage-taker but that "such actions are denounced in part and in whole in Islam". |
| How anti-Muslim sentiment hit one Australian | How anti-Muslim sentiment hit one Australian |