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Social media responds to the Sydney siege
Australia was Monday rocked by a hostage crisis when a gunman - identified by Australian police as Haron Monis, already known to authorities there - held staff and customers in a café in Sydney’s central business district for over 12 hours for as yet unknown motives.
Social media, of course, has played an instant and integral role in relaying events as they occur and tracing reactions from shock to fear to condemnation and ultimately solidarity with Australia’s diverse Arab and Muslim communities.
Morning shock
Lindt café in Sydney is a popular hangout for tourists and the thousands of workers for whom the central business district work days. It also happens to be right across from one of Australia’s largest commercial TV networks Channel Seven suggesting that the gunman wanted an audience.
Lindt cafe unlikely to be random choice for siege. Maximum media coverage next to Ch 7 newsroom.
— Cath Turner (@turnerscope) December 14, 2014
Channel Seven and other TV networks immediately showed footage of hostages holding up a black flag emblazoned with white Arabic text pressed against the glass of the café prompting newsmakers and commentators to think this was the flag of the Islamic State group (IS, formerly known as ISIS). Vigorous debate ensued as to explain the religious and political significance of the flag on display bearing the shahada, or the twin testaments that there is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet.
Here's a photo of a flag being displayed by hostages in the Sydney cafe, photo via @morningshowon7 pic.twitter.com/LjU7NrSTrR
— BuzzFeed Australia (@BuzzFeedOz) December 14, 2014
Everyone is saying these flags are the same, but the shapes are totally different #SydneySeige pic.twitter.com/IdWuNVFnui
— Monica Tan (@m_onicatan) December 14, 2014
These are not the same. First is Shahadah flag, second is specifically claimed by IS. pic.twitter.com/ozVa5v1zg2
— OttomanScribe (@ottomanscribe) December 14, 2014
An exclusion zone was set up by police and counterterrorism experts and thousands had to evacuate their offices including in the iconic opera house. Public transport has been re-routed and key roads that flank the café blocked. The location of the café is critical as it’s also close to the New South Parliament and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
In light of the situation in the CBD today, tonight's Opera House performances will be cancelled. More: http://t.co/Grv4R5SYtH
— Sydney Opera House (@SydOperaHouse) December 15, 2014
And the other direction, up #martinplace towards the #siege location. #ghosttown #sydney pic.twitter.com/TGuP4xcEhd
— Matt Siegel (@Mattsiegel1) December 15, 2014
Moral panic
As a crowd gathered, journalists reported on bystanders taking selfies in front of the exclusion zone.
The punters are back taking selfies 100m from the Lindt Cafe #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/JoAa9JO0Ep
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) December 15, 2014
But events took a darker turn when a video – that has since circulated online garnering over 1 million views on facebook - though much lesss on youtube - in less than 12 hours – showed a member of the far-right Australian Defence League member haranguing the crowd with Islamophobic statements.
Conservative radio announcers such as Ray Hadley were not long in suggesting the gunman was an extremist Muslim. Hadley also claimed he had spoken to one of the hostages in the cafe off air and that the gunman wanted to speak to Australian Prime Minister live on Hadley’s radio show
2GB radio host Ray Hadley says gunman had made contact with him through hostage, trying to get his message out on air http://t.co/U8RokIjKjS
— Katya Wachtel (@katyawachtel) December 15, 2014
Other prominent counterterrorism experts made a direct link to politicised extremist Islamist tactics and ideologies rather than the actions of a lone gunman
#sydneysiege gunman "locating himself as supporter of Islamic State," says Prof Greg Barton: http://t.co/mInBP192Zd pic.twitter.com/2qg2xFjBVx
— abc730 (@abc730) December 15, 2014
Free hostages
With several news outlets covering the hostage situation closely, there was drama when footage of hostages escaping and some being freed were broadcast live.
Such powerful images of hostages escaping, those poor women. And the fear for those still trapped inside #Sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/TeEnRk6JTi
— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) December 15, 2014
A woman runs from the Lindt cafe in #MartinPlace after 7 hours as a hostage. Photo by Rob Griffith/@AP #SydneySiege pic.twitter.com/mTFyvokI6P
— smh.com.au (@smh) December 15, 2014
Solidarity and support
Online community initiatives emerged with the continuous coverage. Muslim community leaders roundly condemned the attacks inviting non- Muslim Australians to take part in interfaith prayer vigils around the country.
The Lebanese Muslim Association has issued a statement condemning #sydneysiege and calling for calm. pic.twitter.com/z2hCIBPaha
— Karen Michelmore (@K_Michelmore) December 15, 2014
Faith leaders hold a prayer vigil calling for calm at Lakemba mosque following today's #siege. @abcnews pic.twitter.com/ZY6O2FkhIj
— Mohamed Taha (@Mo_Taha1) December 15, 2014
Australians responded overwhelmingly with a show of solidarity via the hashtag #illridewithyou. The worldwide trending hashtag, with over 135,000 tweets in the past twelve hours, saw users offer to accompany Muslims fearing a racist backlash on public transport.
This is my Australia. Being a Muslim this hashtag is the best thing happened today. I Love You Australia. #illridewithyou
— Arif (@Atozai) December 15, 2014
Thanks for protecting my sisters #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/Qy9l0lN1qB
— Angger Prawitasari (@anggerwitasari) December 15, 2014
Don't expect many to agree but #illridewithyou is patronising as hell
— Away in an Osmanger (@oz_f) December 15, 2014
The tense wait
Meanwhile, the drama continues to unfold, live on social media.
From inside Martin Place newsroom, we've counted around 15 hostages - not 50 - mix of women, men, young, old - but no children.
— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014