Latest from Sydney

Zachary Steel and Grant Devilly: Don't hurry to counsel Sydney siege survivors

As Australia reels from the Sydney siege and its unhappy end, many will be wondering what can be done for the hostages stuck for hours with the gunman in the Lindt cafe.

Survivor's tears for slain boss

Amid the sea of flowers and mourners at Sydney's Martin Place, siege survivor Harriette Denny set up her own tribute for her slain boss, Tori Johnson.

Sydney siege: Security system failed - Abbott

Gunman's chilling last post

The "fake sheik" behind the deadly Sydney cafe siege railed against Australian "terrorism" on his website a day before he took 17 people hostage.

Siege: Govt must weigh risk, rights

PM John Key said the Sydney siege gunman highlighted the conundrum for authorities over protecting citizens against potential terrorism and over-stepping their powers.

Brian Rudman: Terrorism no justification to fight others' wars

Government MP Mark Mitchell argues that the Sydney hostage drama is 100 per cent justification for the anti-terrorist legislation he helped bulldoze through Parliament last week.

How lone wolf shattered a quiet morning

Man Haron Monis brought a nation to its knees. After taking 17 people hostage he was in charge, helping empty the heart of Sydney.

Sydney siege: why was he out?

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will urgently review how a lone gunman known to federal police and ASIO was able to take hostages in a Sydney cafe.

Family of hostage taker's murdered ex-wife angry over bail

Monis' former partner Noleen Hayson Pal, 30, was stabbed 18 times and set alight outside her Werrington unit in April 2013.

The man behind the siege

Haron Monis was known to authorities for a string of offences.

Combating homegrown terror

The siege comes months after Australia's biggest ever counter-terrorism raids and follows repeated warnings by ASIO, the domestic spy agency, of the growing threat of a homegrown domestic....

Siege: Grand Mufti condemns gunman

The country’s highest Islamic office holder has condemned the actions of a gunman responsible for a hostage situation in Sydney’s CBD.

Captives may consider fighting back

Some hostages held in the Sydney cafe may have had thoughts of attacking the hostage takers as survival instincts "come to the fore", a psychologist says.

Anti-terrorist law in NZ 100% justified

The MP who chaired the anti-terrorist legislation rushed through Parliament last week, MarkMitchell, says the bill was "100 per cent" justified.

Negotiator - Establish rapport, keep control

One or two words can be enough to turn a hostage situation, so language and rapport is everything, a former New Zealand hostage negotiator says.

Bump, then 'crazy-eyed' gunman struck

Father-of-four Craig Stoker had just bought a coffee at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place when he walked out and bumped into a "crazy-eyed" man.

Kiwi sees hostages on knees

A New Zealander who saw the Sydney siege unfold has described seeing people cowering on their knees only moments after a gunman took them hostage.

Auckland exercise echoes hostage drama

Aucklanders can be confident the measures Sydney has in place to deal with hostage or terrorism emergencies would be available here - but on a smaller scale, a senior police source says.