Four Corners’ Harrowing Lindt Siege Report Will Go Down As One Of Its Best

Four Corners has just wrapped up a two-part investigation into the Lindt Café siege of 2014, during which three people died: hostages Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson, and gunman Man Haron Monis. 

The report speaks to the families of Johnson and Dawson, as well as other hostages, as they emerge from an 18-month inquest into the police response to the situation. It’s incredibly gruelling, emotional stuff, as they delve into the events of the siege, the police operation, and the eventual disaster that unfolded. 

It’s a tragedy that has remained in the public consciousness for a long time. With the end of the inquest, and with this piece of sensitive and thorough journalistic investigation, it seems that people are finally beginning to feel a sense of closure – along all the anger one would expect at just how wrong it went. 

Can’t believe the negotiator’s phone rang out four times. Just screamed at my TV. Heartbreaking and infuriating. #4corners

— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) May 29, 2017

The hostages were literally signalling to the police to storm the joint, but were ignored because god knows why #4corners

— Kemal Atlay (@kemal_atlay) May 29, 2017

The hostages’ sense of abandonment is palpable. Unlocking doors & signalling because they thought nobody was coming to save them. #4corners

— Sarah McPhee (@_SarahMcPhee) May 29, 2017

This delay, and the manner in which the families were told their loved ones had died, is inexcusable #4Corners

— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) May 29, 2017

Viewers are already hailing this report as one of the program’s best, though – a piece of investigative journalism that does everything the form should.

This Lindt investigation is brilliant. Extraordinary, forensic detail. Essentially #4Corners has conducted its own commission of inquiry.

— John Lyons (@TheLyonsDen) May 29, 2017

And #4corners once again showing why the ABC is worth every cent it gets.

— Wolf Cocklin (@wolfcat) May 29, 2017

So moved by #4corners tonight. Thank you for these insights. May we learn from it so that Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson didn’t die in vain

— Joan MacDougal (@JoanMacDougal) May 29, 2017

You can watch part 1 of the report here, and part 2 here. It’s harrowing stuff, but as always, the Four Corners team have handled their subject matter with dignity, care and compassion.