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                    Abbott Vows Probe Into Sydney Cafe Siege

   by VOA News

   Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is promising an investigation
   into how a deranged Iranian-born man with a history of violence and
   extremism was allowed to carry out this week's deadly cafe siege in
   Sydney.

   Man Haron Monis on Monday stormed the Lindt chocolate cafe in downtown
   Sydney, taking 17 hostages. The 50-year-old Monis and two hostages were
   killed when police commandos raided the cafe.

   Monis was well-known to Australian authorities. He had been freed on
   bail after being charged as an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
   He also faced more than 40 sexual assault and indecency charges.

   On Wednesday, Prime Minister Abbott said at a news conference he wants
   to know why Monis was not being monitored or detained, given his
   history of violence, mental instability, and infatuation with
   extremism.

   Monis was not on any terrorist or security watch list, despite posting
   repeated Internet rants against the Australian government, including
   some statements that seem to support the Islamic State group.

   The prime minister said he intends to publish a transparent report on
   the lead-up to the siege, why Monis was not on any watch list, and how
   such an individual was able to acquire a shotgun.

   New South Wales police commissioner Andrew Scipione on Wednesday said
   he was concerned "from the very beginning" that Monis got bail. But he
   said Monis did not appear on any security watch list because none of
   his charges were politically motivated.

   Monis fled to Australia two decades ago claiming persecution in Iran.
   He has been referred to in the media as a "self-styled" Islamic cleric,
   in reference to the non-Islamic practices in which he claimed
   expertise, including astrology, numerology, and black magic.

   The suspected gunman also appeared to be a supporter of the Islamic
   State group. During the 16-hour siege, Monis made hostages hold up a
   black flag with an Islamic statement of faith. He also demanded
   authorities give him an Islamic State flag.

   But officials are skeptical that Monis had any links to the Islamist
   extremist group, saying the attack appears to have been an isolated
   incident. The Islamic State has repeatedly threatened attacks against
   Western countries, including Australia, for their air campaign to rid
   its fighters from strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

   Australian authorities say dozens of its citizens have gone to the
   region to fight with the Islamic State, and that many have since
   returned home. The government has passed a series of tough new laws to
   counter the threat. Abbott said Wednesday the system failed to
   adequately deal with Monis, whom he called a "madman."

   Australians continue to mourn the death of the two hostages who died in
   the siege: a 38-year-old lawyer Katrina Dawson and 34-year-old cafe
   manager Tori Johnson. A makeshift memorial continues to grow at a site
   near the cafe, where people have left a mountain of flower bouquets and
   Lindt chocolate boxes.
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   ege/2562231.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/abbott-vows-probe-into-sydney-cafe-siege/2562231.html