over this cafe holding 17 people hostage. authorities say monis was a self-proclaimed islamic sheikh and alleged sexual predator who was well known to them. he pleaded guilty to sending angry, hateful letters to the families of fallen australian service members. during the standoff, two hostages seen through a window holding up a black flag showing a muslim profession of faith. several women uploaded videos. they said monis was demanding a flag and conversation with the prime minister. he s only asking for a flag and a phone call, and that s it. reporter: some hostages were able to escape. just after 2:00 a.m. local time, more than 16 hours after it began, the standoff ended. i believe at that time if they didn t enter, there would have been many more lives lost. reporter: three people dead, including monis. australian authorities say this was an isolated incident, the act of one individual. t.j., reena? like so many others in australia, the ceo of lindt chocolate cafe is exp
in the murder of his wife. monis was best known for sending offensive letters to families of troops killed in afghanistan. he was condemned by mainstream muslims as a fake cleric. he s really a jihoodlum. a thug who wants to do it in the name of jihad. this was a person with a mental problem who tried to gain attention and succeeded. officials still don t know what motivated monis, but he was infatuated with extremism. interesting comments there. a lone wolf that i ve never heard that term before, a jihoodlum, is a way to describe him. not officially affiliated by anyone. he s inspired. and he got worldwide attention and caused governments really to start talking to each other and coordinating and being on alert because of what he pulled. six people were taken to the hospital. those two victims that passed away, one was shielding her pregnant friend. both of them parents. it s heartbreaking. you think about the other people who become inspired by watching the media attention
self-proclaimed islamic sheikh and alleged sexual predator who was well known to them. he pleaded guilty to sending angry, hateful letters to the families of fallen australian service members. during the standoff, two hostages seen through a window holding up a black flag showing a muslim profession of faith. several women uploaded videos. they said monis was demanding a flag and conversation with the prime minister. he s only asking for a flag and a phone call, and that s it. reporter: some hostages were able to escape. just after 2:00 a.m. local time, more than 16 hours after it began, the standoff ended. i believe at that time if they didn t enter, there would have been many more lives lost. reporter: three people dead, including monis. australian authorities say this was an isolated incident, the act of one individual. t.j., reena? like so many others in australia, the ceo of lindt
good morning to you. i m reena ninan. i m t.j. holmes. we begin with the deadly hostage standoff in australia, a country that prided itself on peace. hundreds of grief stricken australians have laid flowers at a makeshift memorial in sydney s business district. a lone gunman took 17 people hostage. prime minister tony abbott also visiting the site leaving a note. here s more from abc s karen travers. reporter: flags across the sydney area lowered to half staff after monday s terrible tragedy. we have lost some of our own in an attack we would never thought we would see here in our city. reporter: the incident began about 9:30 in the heart of sydney. 50-year-old man monis taking over this cafe holding 17 people hostage. authorities say monis was a
50-year-old man monis was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged sexual assaults and as an accessory with his mistress in the murder of his wife. the iranian refugee was best known for writing offensive letters to the families of australian soldiers killed in afghanistan. this pen is my gun. and these words are my bullets. reporter: long before he took to violence, mainstream muslims had condemned him as a phony, a fake cleric. basically thugs that do it in the name of jihad. reporter: once monis ordered the hostages to hold up a black flag, he went from hoodlum to a terrorist. this is a person with a mental problem who tried to gain attention and succeeded.