Benny Elbaz

Terror Down Under: Australian police cordon off area in downtown Sydney near cafe where Islamist terrorist held several hostages. Image by getty images

Jewish communities in Australia remained under lockdown as a hostage crisis continued at a café in Sydney.

The Community Security Group, which handles security for the Jewish communities of Australia, raised the threat level to severe on Monday after an apparent Islamist gunman entered a café in downtown Sydney and took dozens of hostages, the Australian Jewish News reported.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Benny Elbaz

The Australian Jewish News reported that Jewish day schools throughout the country tightened security measures on Monday and cancelled all planned excursions.

The heightened alert will remain in effect on Tuesday, on orders from the Community Security Group, according to the newspaper.

The armed hostage-taker ordered his hostages to hold up a black flag with Islamic symbols and Arabic writing in the window of the Lindt Chocolate shop. Police reportedly made contact with the gunman on Monday night in Sydney. Five hostages have escaped and at least 30 remain.

Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Monday in an interview on Israel Radio that Israel has been in contact with Australian officials and has offered its assistance in dealing with the crisis.

A popular religious Israeli singer, Benny Elbaz, and his son, Gad, left the café moments before it came under siege, which the singer called his “Hanukkah miracle” in media interviews. Elbaz is currently on tour in Australia.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount