Yes, just ignore that black flag of Islamic jihad that the hostages were forced at gunpoint to hold up at the window. We have no idea what its significance could possibly be! But we do know that it has nothing, nothing whatsoever, to do with Islam!
“Tony Abbott: ‘We don’t know the motivation,'” Guardian, December 15, 2014:
Prime minister Tony Abbott is addressing the media. He says the motivation of the siege is not known and calls it a “disturbing incident”. He said there are “some indications” it could be politically motivated.
We have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours, there are people who would wish to do us harm, that’s why we have police and security organisations of the utmost professionalism that are ready and able to respond to a whole range of situations and contingencies including this situation that we are now seeing in Sydney. The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves. Australia is a peaceful, open and generous society. Nothing should ever change that and that’s why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual.