Sydney coroner says police acted too slowly in cafe siege
- 7 years ago
An Australian coroner says police failed to act quickly enough in a Sydney cafe siege in 2014 that left three people dead.
Gunman Man Haron Monis held hostages for 16 hours before opening fire inside the cafe with a warning shot.
The New South Wales State Coroner, Michael Barnes, said:
“I conclude that after a brief period to allow officers to gather relevant information, an emergency action ought to have been initiated following Monis’ first shot at 2:03 am.
“The ten minutes that elapsed without decisive action by police was too long.
“Tori Johnson was executed in the meantime, before police had made a decision about whether to enter the cafe.”
Tori Johnson, the manager of the cafe, was among 18 hostages.
Lawyer Katrina Dawson was killed by fragments of a bullet fired by police.
Officers shot and killed the gunman, who had reportedly sworn allegiance to ISIL not long before his attack.
Gunman Man Haron Monis held hostages for 16 hours before opening fire inside the cafe with a warning shot.
The New South Wales State Coroner, Michael Barnes, said:
“I conclude that after a brief period to allow officers to gather relevant information, an emergency action ought to have been initiated following Monis’ first shot at 2:03 am.
“The ten minutes that elapsed without decisive action by police was too long.
“Tori Johnson was executed in the meantime, before police had made a decision about whether to enter the cafe.”
Tori Johnson, the manager of the cafe, was among 18 hostages.
Lawyer Katrina Dawson was killed by fragments of a bullet fired by police.
Officers shot and killed the gunman, who had reportedly sworn allegiance to ISIL not long before his attack.