Terror link with siege in Australia overnight

A siege overnight in Australia is being investigated as a terror attack.

Two men are dead, three police officers were shot and a woman was taken hostage in a dramatic siege in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Brighton last night. The officers killed the gunman during the shootout. 

Police had not confirmed the identity of the gunman but a man reportedly called Channel Seven’s newsroom during the standoff and said “This is for IS.  This is for al-Qaeda.”  Police are now investigating whether the incident is terror-related and counter-terror investigators were on the scene last night. The Herald Sun has reported the gunman was known to counter-terrorism police, and said he was on parole.

The bomb squad was investigating suspicious packages found in the apartment block.

Read more: Terror gang’s rampage claims at least 6 lives. 

This incident follows terror attacks in the UK over the weekend. One Australian woman, a 21-year-old from Brisbane, who was presumed to be in the vicinity of the London terror attacks at the time is still missing. She has not been heard from for 48 hours, which is unlike her, the family said. Another Brisbane woman is in hospital after being stabbed in the neck during the London Bridge attacks. 

Read more: Should ‘military commandos’ handle terror attacks? 

Does this feel too close to home for you?