3 persons killed in raid to end Sydney's siege

Two hostages and a gunman were killed when Australian police officers stormed Lindt Cafe in Martin place, Sydney, after six hostages succeeded in escaping, according to the Australian police.
Four hostages and a police officer were wounded as the 16-hour siege ended, adding that emergency services rushed to the scene after hearing a series of loud explosions and seeing flashes near the cafe.
The two hostages killed in the dramatic incident have been identified as the manager of the Lindt cafe, 34-year-old Tori Johnson, and 38-year-old barrister Katrina.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said "It is not clear whether they were shot by the gunman or killed in the crossfire when heavily-armed officers stormed the building in Martin Place in the early hours of Tuesday." Self-styled Iranian cleric, Man Haron Monis, was also killed after taking 17 people hostage at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe early on Monday.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has described the violent siege in Sydney's CBD as a "brush with terrorism" and said the perpetrator had used the symbolism of Islamic State, alluding to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). He added that Monis was well known by the authorities. "He had a long history of violent crimes, infatuation with extremism and mental instability," he said.
"What we do know is that the perpetrator was well known to State and Commonwealth authorities," the premier said. "We know that he sent offensive letters to the families of Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan and was found guilty of offences related to this.
"We also know that he posted graphic extremist material online. As the siege unfolded yesterday, he sought to cloak his actions with the symbolism of the ISIL death cult." The hostage taking came following Australian Authorities pursued a hardline policy toward Islamists and radical Islamist groups, including the imams who incite violence, besides Australia's contribution to an international coalition to counter the ISIL threat.