Man Haron Monis

The gunman holding people hostage in a Sydney cafe has been identified as an Iranian refugee who was on bail facing a number of charges. Man Haron Monis, who received political asylum in Australia in 1996, was described by his former lawyer as an isolated figure. He was on bail for being an accessory to the murder of his former wife, was facing more than 40 other charges along with previously being convicted of sending offensive letters to the families of deceased Australian soldiers. "His ideology is just so strong and so powerful that it clouds his vision for common sense and objectiveness," his former lawyer, Manny Conditsis, said. Conditsis who represented him last year when he was charged with being an accessory in the murder of his ex-wife Noleen Hayson Pal, said he thought the suspect might feel "he's got nothing to lose". With this attitude Conditsis feels could have led Monis to “participate in something as desperate and outrageous as this,"

After the sixteen hour siege two people died along with Monis, after commandos stormed the café. Local media have named those who died as Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34 and lawyer Katrina Dawson, 38. Two people who had futures, gone because of one person’s extreme actions. Four people were also injured, including a policeman hit by shotgun pellets. Prime Minister Tony Abbott spoke about the "horrific incident" at the cafe saying it had been "tragic beyond words" and there were "lessons to be learned" from this "brush with terrorism".