Pressure mounts on Sydney siege top cop Mark Jenkins

THE police commander in charge when two hostages were killed at the Lindt Café has come under fire over a previous botched incident.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins continues to give evidence today over the Lindt Cafe Siege. Picture: Adam Taylor

THE police commander in charge when two hostages were killed during the Lindt Café siege has faced robust questioning at the inquest about a previous botched terrorist incident where he allegedly “misjudged the level of risk” and a police officer was shot.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins was challenged by Gabrielle Bashir SC, counsel for Tori Johnson’s family, at the inquest into the deaths arising from the siege this afternoon.

Ms Bashir suggested police should have stormed the cafe before the gunman Man Haron Monis executed Mr Johnson at point blank range.

She accused Mr Jenkins of misjudging the level of risk, which she said he had done before.

Mr Jenkins said that was not his belief.

Ms Bashir: “It’s a fact you failed to appreciate the risk of dangerousness previously?”

Mr Jenkins: “I don’t believe that to be the case.”

Ms Bashir: “And you failed to do so in the early hours of December 16?”

Mr Jenkins: “No I don’t accept that at all.”

Mr Jenkins was in charge of botched terror raids on Omar Baladjam, which ended with a police officer shot in 2005.

Ms Bashir said Mr Jenkins had failed to mention to NSW coroner Michael Barnes while discussing his “experience … awards… and medals” that he had previously “misjudged the level of risk of a terrorist incident before”.

“You have had managerial counselling as a result of communications issues that arose in an earlier critical incident involving a terrorist wearing a backpack who shot at police officers,” Ms Bashir said.

“You didn’t mention that to the coroner in your half hour going through your medals and experience did you?

“It’s the case you failed to appreciate risks and dangerousness previously, isn’t it?”

Mr Jenkins said that was “not the case” before the inquest was briefly adjourned.

A police officer was killed during the shootout of Omar Baladjam in Green Valley, south-western Sydney, in 2005.

The fiery exchange was in relation to an incident in 2005 when Mr Jenkins ordered four police officers to arrest Baladjam during Operation Pendennis.

An internal review found Mr Jenkins failed to tell them ­Baladjam was violent and often armed and was a member of a known terrorist cell.

In the shootout in 2005, which was described as a “screw-up” by then ­Opposition Leader Peter Debnam — none of the four arresting officers were ­wearing bulletproof vests as ­Baladjam opened fire.

A NSW police officer was shot in the hand and ­Baladjam suffered a bullet wound to the neck.

It said he “failed in the duty of care’’ by not “adequately warning’’ and had put the ­officers’ lives at risk.

The damning report on ­Mr Jenkins was given to the ­Professional Standard Unit run by then-Superintendent Cath Burn, who directed Mr ­Jenkins be counselled about his failure to warn officers of the ­dangers.

Mr Jenkins took over ­running the Lindt cafe siege in ­December at 10.15pm until the end of the siege.

There is no suggestion by news.com.au that Mr Jenkins or any other officer ­involved acted inappropriately in relation to the siege.