Australia ignored Tehran's warnings about Sydney hostage-taker - Iranian official
Iran had repeatedly warned Australia about the Islamist hostage-taker in Sydney whose 16-hour siege resulted in the deaths of two captives, before a police operation resulted in his death as well, according to a high-level Iranian official.
Iranian-born Australian Man Haron Monis was a 50-year-old Iranian
refugee and Islamic extremist who had a previous track record.
Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn confirmed that Monis
had a “serious history of criminal offences and a history of
violence,” AFP reported Tuesday.
Iran's deputy foreign minister for Asia and Oceania affairs,
Ebrahim Rahimpour, reported later in the day that Australia had
ignored warnings about the potential danger that the man posed.
“Despite several notifications to the Australian government
regarding his criminal background, no attention was paid,”
Rahimpour told Iranian state television. “We provided
information and asked them to watch this person, but
unfortunately they did not pay attention.”
On Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott demanded an
inquiry into how Monis was not under surveillance despite facing
serious charges and being out on bail. Abbott also announced that
the Iranian-born hostage taker was mentally unstable.
"He had a long history of violent crime, infatuation with
extremism, and mental instability,” Abbott said. “As the
siege unfolded...he sought to cloak his actions with the
symbolism of the ISIL death cult.”
Abbott said that authorities had awareness of the extremist
outlook of Monis on account of the threat letters sent to
Australian soldiers serving in the Middle East.
“How can someone who has had such a long and checkered
history, not be on the appropriate watch-lists?” Abbott
said.
Claims r swirling on internet (@EjmAlrai ) that 'Sheikh Haron' AKA 'Man Haron Monis' is hostage taker in #sydneysiegepic.twitter.com/oDGIptLoZo
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) December 15, 2014
Iran's police chief, Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam, said that Monis was
known as Manteghi, and left in 1996 after managing a travel
agency. He had a wife and two children in Iran. Upon his initial
departure he reportedly went to Malaysia before reaching
Australia.
“We are prepared for a joint investigation and, if they send us
his DNA, we can compare it with his family to see if he is that
person or not,” Moghaddam said in an online statement.
READ MORE: Sydney gunman identified as
Iranian-born Man Haron Monis, on bail for violent crimes
Between 2000 and 2002, Monis styled himself as an “expert in
astrology, numerology, meditation and black magic.” More
than 40 women have alleged that he used this as an opportunity to
sexually assault vulnerable clients, who came to him for help.
Despite police concerns that Monis could attempt to extract
revenge against his accusers, the preacher was once again
released prior to his hearing.
Monis, who accumulated more than 14,000 followers on his Facebook
page before it was shut down on Monday, accused the government of
systematic persecution. He was due to face trial for both sets of
charges next year.
