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1. It is the moment that changed us forever. Sydney watches in horror as a distressed hostage holds up a black IS-related flag at the window of the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, signalling the start of a 17-hour siege.
1/281. It is the moment that changed us forever. Sydney watches in horror as a distressed hostage holds up a black IS-related flag at the window of the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, signalling the start of a 17-hour siege.
2. An armed police officer signals instructions to a colleague minutes after the cafe manager Tori Johnson called Triple 000 with a gun pointed to his head by an unknown customer. Picture: Richard Dobson
2/282. An armed police officer signals instructions to a colleague minutes after the cafe manager Tori Johnson called Triple 000 with a gun pointed to his head by an unknown customer. Picture: Richard Dobson
3. The Opera House stands deserted. Tourists are evacuated after a suspicious package is found on the Cahill Expressway amid fears of a wider terrorist attack, York Street and Harbour Street exits from the Harbour Bridge are closed as Sydney came to a standstill. Picture: Craig Greenhill
3/283. The Opera House stands deserted. Tourists are evacuated after a suspicious package is found on the Cahill Expressway amid fears of a wider terrorist attack, York Street and Harbour Street exits from the Harbour Bridge are closed as Sydney came to a standstill. Picture: Craig Greenhill
4. By 10.07am, elite officers with the Tactical Operations Unit equipped with heavy artillery move into position at Martin Place. This is now being treated as a terrorist incident. Picture: Richard Dobson
4/284. By 10.07am, elite officers with the Tactical Operations Unit equipped with heavy artillery move into position at Martin Place. This is now being treated as a terrorist incident. Picture: Richard Dobson
5. The gunman is spotted for the first time, wearing a bandana with Arabic lettering. Police identify him as Islamic cleric Man Monis. Picture: Ross Schultz
5/285. The gunman is spotted for the first time, wearing a bandana with Arabic lettering. Police identify him as Islamic cleric Man Monis. Picture: Ross Schultz
6. Calm in the middle of the unfolding drama, workers in surrounding offices are evacuated as the city’s financial heart goes into lockdown. Picture: Toby Zerna
6/286. Calm in the middle of the unfolding drama, workers in surrounding offices are evacuated as the city’s financial heart goes into lockdown. Picture: Toby Zerna
7. At 3.40pm, John O’Brien, 82, is the first hostage to take a chance and make a break for freedom as the gunman turns his back. He says later the only thing on his mind was his sick daughter. Picture: Craig Greenhill
7/287. At 3.40pm, John O’Brien, 82, is the first hostage to take a chance and make a break for freedom as the gunman turns his back. He says later the only thing on his mind was his sick daughter. Picture: Craig Greenhill
8. Cafe worker Elly Chen, 22, follows John O’Brien out of the door, and races down the street still wearing her brown Lindt barista uniform. Her terrified face confirms the gravity of the situation. Picture: Chris McKeen
8/288. Cafe worker Elly Chen, 22, follows John O’Brien out of the door, and races down the street still wearing her brown Lindt barista uniform. Her terrified face confirms the gravity of the situation. Picture: Chris McKeen
9. Elly Chen runs towards the the police. Picture: Chris McKeen
9/289. Elly Chen runs towards the the police. Picture: Chris McKeen
10. Another Lindt Cafe staff member Jieun Bae, 20, who had spent an hour unlocking a door latch to flee, is hauled to safety by a tactical operations unit officer. Picture: Adam Taylor
10/2810. Another Lindt Cafe staff member Jieun Bae, 20, who had spent an hour unlocking a door latch to flee, is hauled to safety by a tactical operations unit officer. Picture: Adam Taylor
11. As afternoon turns to evening, officers from the tactical operations unit officers cement their positions ahead of a possible assault.
11/2811. As afternoon turns to evening, officers from the tactical operations unit officers cement their positions ahead of a possible assault.
12. Man Monis is sighted through the window with a sawn-off pump action shotgun in his right hand. threatening the hostages as darkness falls.
12/2812. Man Monis is sighted through the window with a sawn-off pump action shotgun in his right hand. threatening the hostages as darkness falls.
14. With their arms in the air, more hostages made the dash for freedom. Cafe worker Harriette Denny, 30, (far left) ran down Martin Place with barrister Julie Taylor, 35, who was 19 weeks pregnant. IT worker and father-of-one Viswakanth Ankireddy and university student Joel Herat, 21, were among the five hostages who were the last to flee before Monis shot dead Tori Johnson and the police moved in.
13/2814. With their arms in the air, more hostages made the dash for freedom. Cafe worker Harriette Denny, 30, (far left) ran down Martin Place with barrister Julie Taylor, 35, who was 19 weeks pregnant. IT worker and father-of-one Viswakanth Ankireddy and university student Joel Herat, 21, were among the five hostages who were the last to flee before Monis shot dead Tori Johnson and the police moved in.
13. Armed officers get the order to move in and end the siege. Picture: Gordon McComiskie
14/2813. Armed officers get the order to move in and end the siege. Picture: Gordon McComiskie
15. Mother of three, Marcia Mikhael, 43, was shot in the leg when police stormed the cafe and was carried out over the body of Man Monis.
15/2815. Mother of three, Marcia Mikhael, 43, was shot in the leg when police stormed the cafe and was carried out over the body of Man Monis.
16. Louisa Hope, 52, was confined to a wheelchair after her left ankle was blown to pieces in the bullet-riddled climax to the siege.
16/2816. Louisa Hope, 52, was confined to a wheelchair after her left ankle was blown to pieces in the bullet-riddled climax to the siege.
17. The country’s first terrorist siege was over but the painstaking forensic work had just begun to determine the details of the death of Tori Johnson, show dead by Man Monis, and barrister Katrina Dawson, killed by six fragments of ricocheting police bullets. Picture: Bill Hearne
17/2817. The country’s first terrorist siege was over but the painstaking forensic work had just begun to determine the details of the death of Tori Johnson, show dead by Man Monis, and barrister Katrina Dawson, killed by six fragments of ricocheting police bullets. Picture: Bill Hearne
18. After the siege came the tears. Tori Johnson’s father, artist Ken Johnson, (far right) sought some solace from the outpouring of a city as a sea of flowers covered Martin Place in the days after the tragedy.Tori’s youngest sister Rada is seen as she breaks down during the ceremony. Picture: Rohan Kelly
18/2818. After the siege came the tears. Tori Johnson’s father, artist Ken Johnson, (far right) sought some solace from the outpouring of a city as a sea of flowers covered Martin Place in the days after the tragedy.Tori’s youngest sister Rada is seen as she breaks down during the ceremony. Picture: Rohan Kelly
19. Premier Mike Baird joined Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione in Martin Place to say the city had been tested by the siege but the despair was being replaced by the “emergence of hope”. Picture: Tim Hunter
19/2819. Premier Mike Baird joined Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione in Martin Place to say the city had been tested by the siege but the despair was being replaced by the “emergence of hope”. Picture: Tim Hunter
20. Hostage Elly Chen was joined by workmates from the Lindt Cafe as she made an emotional visit to the makeshift memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Tim Hunter
20/2820. Hostage Elly Chen was joined by workmates from the Lindt Cafe as she made an emotional visit to the makeshift memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Tim Hunter
21. A memorial to the two hostages who never made it. One of the thousands of cards left in Martin Place said: “Rest in love - Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson. You’ll never be forgotten.” Picture: John Grainger
21/2821. A memorial to the two hostages who never made it. One of the thousands of cards left in Martin Place said: “Rest in love - Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson. You’ll never be forgotten.” Picture: John Grainger
22. There were emotional scenes as Katrina Dawson’s friends and family farewelled the mother of three at a memorial service at the University of Sydney’s Great Hall on December 23. Her son Ollie said: “Mummy is in heaven heaven is in my heart, so mum will be with me all the time.” Picture: Adam Taylor
22/2822. There were emotional scenes as Katrina Dawson’s friends and family farewelled the mother of three at a memorial service at the University of Sydney’s Great Hall on December 23. Her son Ollie said: “Mummy is in heaven heaven is in my heart, so mum will be with me all the time.” Picture: Adam Taylor
23. On the same day, just 100 metres from the Lindt cafe Tori Johnson was laid to rest at St Stephens Uniting Church. This photographs shows Tori’s partner of 14 years, Thomas Zinn, Tori’s father Ken Johnson and brother James Johnson. Picture: Adam Yip
23/2823. On the same day, just 100 metres from the Lindt cafe Tori Johnson was laid to rest at St Stephens Uniting Church. This photographs shows Tori’s partner of 14 years, Thomas Zinn, Tori’s father Ken Johnson and brother James Johnson. Picture: Adam Yip
24. The piles of flowers in Martin Place grew ever higher as thousands of people lined up to honour those they never knew but whose tragedy touched them. Overwhelming was the silence of the crowds. Picture: Tony Zerna
24/2824. The piles of flowers in Martin Place grew ever higher as thousands of people lined up to honour those they never knew but whose tragedy touched them. Overwhelming was the silence of the crowds. Picture: Tony Zerna
Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, “Martin Place Siege”.
25/28Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, “Martin Place Siege”.
Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, “Martin Place Siege”.
26/28Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, “Martin Place Siege”.
Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, “Martin Place Siege”.
27/28Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, “Martin Place Siege”.
Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, “Martin Place Siege”.
28/28Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, “Martin Place Siege”.
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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-25-images-that-defined-the-sydney-siege/image-gallery/d1e3982b2d3764762347b20a43e91550