Bystanders Taking Selfies Outside Lindt Cafe in Sydney Spark Outrage

Bystanders Taking Selfies Outside Lindt Cafe in Sydney Spark Outrage
Mary Chastain

A number of individuals passing by the Lindt Café in Sydney, Australia–the site of a violent siege by an Islamist terrorist–began posting “selfie” photos of themselves smiling in front of the horrifying scene. These people received massive criticism on social media.

Just before 10 a.m. local time, Man Haron Monis–a self-described “sheik” with Islamist sympathies and an extensive criminal past that included sexual assault violations–seized the café. In addition to holding the hostages, Monis told authorities he carried bombs and planted more around the buildings. For hours, police did not know what was going on or if more terrorists would join in.

Regardless, a number of young Australians chose the setting for a “selfie” photo:

People reacted with outrage as the pictures made the rounds on social media:

The police confirmed the siege ended before 2:31 a.m. local time, about 17 hours after it started, and police and paramedics stormed the cafe around 2:20 a.m. Live broadcasts showed bright lights inside the building, but authorities did not confirm any injuries or deaths. CNN, however, is now reporting that at least two individuals have died and four are in critical condition.

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.