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Details emerge about Martin Place siege victims

New information has emerged about the identities of some of the hostages who survived 17 harrowing hours held against their will by a gunman in Martin Place cafe.

Marcia Mikhael

Occupation: Westpac employee

The 43-year-old mother of three was carried out of the Lindt cafe by police.

It is believed she is being treated at the Royal North Shore Hospital for a gunshot wound to the leg and is in a stable condition.

Marcia appeared in one of the hostage videos uploaded on Monday night during the siege. She also released a message on social media during the siege asking for the demands of the hostage taker to be met.

Many of her family members live in Ontario, Canada.

Julie Taylor

Occupation: Barrister

Julie Taylor is a barrister at Eight Selborne Chambers and a colleague of Katrina Dawson, who died in the Martin Place siege.

It is understood Ms Taylor was at the cafe with Ms Dawson.

Ms Taylor appeared in one of the hostage videos uploaded during the siege.

Elly Chen

Occupation: Student and Lindt cafe staff member

Elly Chen was in the second group of hostages to escape from the cafe on Monday afternoon.

Her social media accounts state she is a University of NSW student studying a Bachelor of Commerce.

Harriette Denny

Occupation: Lindt cafe staff member

Harriette Denny, 30, worked at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe and ran from the building with five other hostages just before police launched their assault.

Her father, Robert Denny, said his family spent an anxious night watching the events unfold on television but had since spoken with his daughter.

"She's OK, she's tired, she's relieved," he said, adding she was distressed that duty manager Tori Johnson did not make it out.

Viswakanth Ankireddy

Occupation: IT worker

Indian IT company Infosys released a statement late yesterday saying one of its employees was among the hostages at the Lindt cafe in Sydney.

The statement said family members of the employee had been informed and the company was extending all possible support to them.

Joel Herat

Occupation: Lindt cafe staff member

Hostage videos appeared on a YouTube account in the name of Joel Herat late last night before they were taken down by YouTube.

Paolo Vassallo

Occupation: Lindt cafe staff member

Paolo Vassallo, a married father of three, was one of the first hostages to escape from the cafe on Monday afternoon.

He was reunited with family members after being taken to hospital for observation last night because of a pre-existing condition.

Police also released information about the victims who became injured after the Martin Place siege ended in violent gunfire.


The injured are:

A 75-year-old female who received a gunshot wound to the shoulder – stable condition.

A 52-year-old female who received a gunshot wound to the foot – stable condition.

A 43-year-old female with a gunshot wound to the leg – stable condition

A 39 year old male who received a minor facial injury due to gunshot – treated at hospital and discharged. (this is a police officer)

A 35-year-old pregnant female assessed for health and welfare purposes - stable.

A 30-year-old pregnant female assessed for health and welfare purposes – stable.

One of the family members of a hostage posted on their cafe Facebook page about their relief to find out their family member was alright, but expressed grief over the deaths of two people.

A statement on the Hidden Bean Facebook page.
A statement on the Hidden Bean Facebook page.

Both hostages killed in the Sydney cafe siege have been named.

The Lindt cafe's manager, Tori Johnson, 34, was shot dead in the final minutes of the 16-and-a-half hour stand-off.

Unconfirmed reports say he tried to wrestle the gunman to the ground.

Also killed was barrister and mother of three Katrina Dawson, 38, who worked in the city.

They died, along with the gunman, self-described Muslim cleric Man Haron Monis, when heavily-armed police stormed the Martin Place cafe early on Tuesday.

The NSW Bar Association paid tribute to Ms Dawson.

Katrina Dawson - one of the victims of the Martin Place siege.
Katrina Dawson - one of the victims of the Martin Place siege.


"Katrina was one of our best and brightest barristers who will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends of the NSW Bar," association president Jane Needham SC said in a statement.

"She was a devoted mother of three children and a valued member of her floor and of our community."

Ms Dawson, who attended prestigious girls school Ascham, topped the state in the Higher School Certificate in 1994 with a TER of 100.

She also topped her bar exams and is the sister of well-known media barrister Sandy Dawson.


Tori Johnson - one of the victims of the Martin Place siege. Photo: Twitter
Tori Johnson - one of the victims of the Martin Place siege. Photo: Twitter

Mr Johnson worked in hospitality in Sydney since 1999, and at the Lindt cafe since October 2012.

Peter Manettas worked with Mr Johnson for nearly seven years at the Adria Bar Restaurant in Darling Harbour.

"He was an amazing man," Mr Manettas said on Tuesday.

"He was a selfless person who always put staff above everyone.

"He put himself second."

Mr Manettas said Mr Johnson would still pop in for a coffee at the Darling Harbour cafe, more than two years after he finished working there.

His parents released this statement:

"We are so proud of our beautiful boy Tori, gone from this earth but forever in our memories as the most amazing life partner, son and brother we could ever wish for.

"We feel heartfelt sorrow for the family of Katrina Dawson.

"We'd like to thank not only our friends and loved ones for their support, but the people of Sydney; Australia and those around the world for reaching out with their thoughts and prayers.

"Our deepest gratitude to the NSW police, armed forces and paramedics for their tireless efforts.

"We ask that the media respects our privacy in this difficult time.

"Let us all pray for peace on earth."



Floral tributes in Martin Place
A makeshift shrine is growing by the hour in Martin Place.

People are congregating to lay flowers and pay their respects to the two people killed by the gunman in Lindt Cafe.

GALLERY: Mike Baird lays flowers in Martin Place. Photo: AAP
GALLERY: Mike Baird lays flowers in Martin Place. Photo: AAP

NSW Premier Mike Baird has laid flowers at the make-shift shrine to the two victims of the Sydney cafe siege, appealing to the city to come together.

"What we need to do is to come together like never before," he said on Tuesday morning.

Sydneysiders have been left shocked by the hostage crisis, which lasted 16-and-a-half gruelling hours, after a lone gunman walked into the Lindt cafe in Martin Place just before 10am on Monday.

A solemn and visibly shaken Mr Baird said: "They're trying to express what we all feel."

"It's a terrible tragedy."

Police and Emergency Services Minister Stuart Ayres joined Mr Baird on Tuesday.

Mr Baird said a lot of people are hurting.

"We are so proud of everyone and right now though our thoughts are with the victims, families and their friends and we need to do every thing we can to support them at this time.

"Everyone is hurting a lot."

Asked if Martin Place would get a permanent memorial to the victims and one of Sydney's most terrifying days, Mr Baird said the city must first get through the terrible ordeal.

"It will always be a very special place for us. Let's just get through it."

Police tape has now been strung up on either side of the shrine cordoning off an official area.

Members of the Muslim community lay flowers at the shrine on Martin Place. Photo: AAP
Members of the Muslim community lay flowers at the shrine on Martin Place. Photo: AAP

The Governor-General visited the shrine to pay his respects.

Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lynne arrived just before 11am.

It is understood the prime minister is due to arrive later during the morning.