Lindt siege: One of first officers to confront Man Monis had blood pouring from head wound

ONE of the first two officers to confront gunman Man Monis and bring the Lindt Cafe siege to an end had blood pouring from his face and appeared dazed, the inquest heard today.

Heavily armed police outside the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

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ONE of the first two officers to confront gunman Man Monis and bring the Lindt Cafe siege to an end had blood pouring from his face and appeared dazed, the inquest heard today.

The leader of the second tactical team into the cafe, codenamed Delta Alpha, said he asked his colleague, known as Officer B, if he was all right and the officer took some time answering.

Heavily armed police outside the Lindt shop in Martin Place. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Officers wait outside the cafe earlier in the day.

Marcia Mikhael and Katrina Dawson hold up a sign in the Lindt window.

Officer B, who fired five shots at Monis, has told investigators with the inquest that he could not even remember firing his gun as he stormed the cafe after Monis shot dead Tori Johnson at 2.13am on December 16, 2014.

It is another example of the toll the operation took on the Tactical Operations Unit officers who were on standby from early on December 15 when Monis took 18 hostages in the Martin Place cafe.

Delta Alpha, whose Charlie team assaulted the cafe through the doors into its Martin Place foyer, said he took control of the situation from Officer B when he saw the officer was injured.

Officers A and B were first into the cafe through its main doors on the corner of Martin Place and Phillip Street.

Together they fired 22 shots, killing Monis. Barrister Katrina Dawson died after being hit by seven fragments of police bullets as she hid beneath a chair behind Monis.

Snipers take positions during the siege.