DPA/Sydney

An Australian state has tightened its bail and firearms laws after revelations that Sydney’s Lindt Cafe siege killer was on bail for a string of serious violence charges.
The change in New South Wales will make it more difficult for people with links to violent extremists to be granted bail when charged with serious criminal offences, state Premier Mike Baird said.
Gunman Man Haron Monis was on bail when he stormed the Lindt Cafe in central Sydney on December 15. He was facing 40 charges of sexual assault and being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
A coroner’s inquiry into the death of two hostages found that the public prosecutor several times did not oppose his bail applications.
Baird said the new rules were “to ensure that, except in the most exceptional circumstances, anyone with links to terrorism or violent extremism including returned foreign fighters will be refused bail,” Baird said in a Facebook post.
Monis ordered his siege victims to hold up a flag similar to the black Islamic State flag, before he shot cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, reportedly when he tried to grab the gun. Katrina Dawson, 38, a lawyer, was killed in the crossfire when police stormed the cafe.
The inquiry has not confirmed whether Monis had active links to terrorist groups, but he had earlier come to the attention of security agencies when he offered them his services and asked the government if he could write to the leader of the Taliban.
The self-styled Muslim cleric was earlier convicted of harassing the families of Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan by writing them offensive letters. He was ordered to do 300 hours community service.

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