By: Lucy Marks.
Dramatic footage from the Sydney siege has been played at an inquest, showing Man Haron Monis firing at six escaping hostages, as well as the final moments of the standoff when police stormed the Lindt Cafe.
Monis took 17 hostages at the cafe about 9:45am on December 15, 2014, with the siege coming to a bloody end after a 16-hour standoff.
Counsel assisting the coroner Sophie Callan told the inquest that shortly after 2:00am Fiona Ma escaped and Monis fired a shot into the kitchen.
Monis then ordered cafe manager Tori Johnson to put his hands behind his head and kneel, and is heard telling everyone they will be OK.
Moments later the gunman shot Mr Johnson in the back of the head.
Monis then said: “Don’t move, everything will be fine.”
At this point, a sniper made the call “hostage down” and Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) officers entered the building, used distraction devices, then officers fired a number of shots at Monis.
Ms Callan told the inquest: “It is apparent that the TOU officers that entered the cafe that night believed there was likely to be an explosive device inside.”
Distraction devices described as ‘flash bangs’ were thrown into the cafe’s main doors to distract and disorientate Monis.
The inquest heard Monis discharged two rounds towards the officers, which were found to have hit high above the main doors.
Ms Callan said the two officers who fired their guns, known as officer A and B, shot 17 rounds and five rounds respectively.