At press time, an armed man was still holding several hostages at a shop in downtown Sydney Australia, demanding a personal conversation with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and a flag of the Islamic State (IS, formally ISIS) terror militia. Australia’s Jewish community has gone into lockdown mode in response to the crisis, with all educational and cultural institutions closed and trips cancelled. Instructions have been issued by communal leaders to be extra vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity or objects to police. Israel’s embassy to Australia has issued similar instructions to any Israeli citizens in the country and expressed solidarity with the Australian government in the crisis. Read More
