news

Inquest releases CCTV footage of Man Monis shooting at fleeing Sydney Siege hostages.

Warning: This news report contains disturbing detail.

It’s been over a year since a group of hostages were held in a Sydney Lindt cafe by Man Haron Monis.

And now, for the first time since the Sydney Siege in December 2014, CCTV footage of the 50-year-old Iranian shooting at six individuals as they escaped has been released as part of a formal inquest.

Coroner Sophie Callan and her assisting counsel told the court that, despite previous belief Monis was firing warning shots at the group, it is accepted he was actually attempting to shoot them.

katrina dawson sbs edit
Victim of the siege, Katrina Dawson. (Image: SBS)
ADVERTISEMENT

“That assessment was made without the benefit of evidence which has since been gathered, and analysis of video footage,” she said.

“It now appears that although his shot missed, the very strong inference is that Monis was shooting at the hostages.”

According to Ms Callan it is unknown why victims Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, who both lost their lives in the attack, did not try to escape at the same time.

“It may have been either by decision, or because their positions … did not allow them to leave in time.”

Image of victim Tori Johnson. (Image: Facebook)

Shortly after another person, Fiona Ma, fled the scene at 2:11am, Monis demanded Mr Johnson put his hands behind his head and kneel. He was subsequently shot in the back of the head.

Moments later Monis told the group: “Don’t move, everything will be fine.”

It was then that a sniper made the call for the Tactical Operations Unit to enter the building, and officers were commanded to fire a number of shots at Monis. He was shot a number of times all over his body and was killed.

Devastatingly, Ms Dawson unintentionally suffered a police gunshot wound also, from which she died.

Where were you when you first heard news about the Sydney siege?