Sydney's Martin Place was cleared of office workers pushing through peak hour on Wednesday evening. Instead, lines of mourners wait patiently to pay their respects to two strangers who were killed after being taken hostage during their peak-hour coffee run.
On Tuesday morning, just a few posies of flowers marked the scene of the Sydney siege, where an armed man took 17 people hostage in the city's central business district on Monday morning at 9:45 a.m. In one of the most horrifying, public crimes Sydney has seen. Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson were killed, along with the hostage-taker, as police stormed the building after the hostages suffered through 16 hours of hell inside the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in the heart of Sydney.
Sydneysiders are placing flowers nearby the Martin Place, Sydney, cafe for the 2 #SydneySiege hostage victims. A photo posted by Zack Jones (@zackisthe) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:50pm PST
Australia was already slightly on edge due to the country's terror alert being raised in September, but until Monday the harbour city had generally remained a carefree, bubbling hub with people going about their Christmas shopping. Things like this never happened to Sydney, they whispered.
The fact that one man can attempt to steal the security of an entire city, and be responsible for the death of a mother-of-three and a young man while the world watched on, is something Sydneysiders find hard to fathom. Shattered residents have swarmed into Martin Place -- a mall normally full of office workers where Sydney's main Christmas tree stands -- to lay flowers, to hold each other, to cry.
People have showed their respect by placing flowers and notes in Martin Place after the horrible siege on Monday.. This is absolutely beautiful and continues to grow!! Seeing this makes me proud to be Australian #sydney #martinplace #sydneysiege A photo posted by Ashlee Geary (@ashaleemariee) on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:27pm PST
Some observers randomly burst into tears, overcome by the moving scene that confronts them: thousands of bunches of flowers delivered by hand from those who have been touched by a unimaginable act. The area surrounding the entrance to the train station is now a field of floral tributes.
"Everyone is still rattled and there's a really peculiar atmosphere on the street," Martin Place office worker Sonia Patman told Mashable. "The two people who died were familiar faces to everyone who works in the area -- some of my colleagues were friends of Ms Dawson and as the cafe manager a lot of people spoke to Mr Johnson on a daily basis. There's still police everywhere and even earlier today outside the entrance to my building about ten police were systematically dissecting a BMW on the street."
As night falls, there is an eerie silence that hangs over the hundreds waiting in line for their moment to pay homage to the deceased. Chalk messages of love run the length of the block between Elizabeth and Castlereagh Streets, where normally a bar thrives with afterwork drinkers. On Wednesday, people looked strangers in the eye, instead of looking down at phones, as they went about their commute. This was a day where everyone was on the same page and they all walked the same walk. They would not live in fear.
This is wonderful, it says: "we thank the officers and emergency services for all their efforts and protection" #emergencyservices #nswpolice #sydneysiege #sydneymourns #sydneystrong A photo posted by Tara Edge (@taricakralica) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:05am PST
Solidarity. This is why I am proud to be Australian #sydneysiege #solidarity #peace #flowers #proudaustralian #lovesydney #bestcityintheworld #theluckycountry #Sydney @minaaaa_x A photo posted by Matty Ieriko (@mieriko) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:01am PST
This tribute is a true testament to Australia's culture of mate-ship. This tragedy affects us all. #SydneySiege A photo posted by Zack Jones (@zackisthe) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:17am PST
Have been watching this grow over the last two days, this is why terrorism does not work in Australia. #illridewithyou #sydneysiege #unitedwestand A photo posted by Katharen Lac (@mikatt) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:14am PST
Emotional atmosphere. It's very difficult to hold it together while reading messages. #SydneySiege A photo posted by Zack Jones (@zackisthe) on Dec 12, 2014 at 2:54am PST
I spent some time in Martin Place this morning and it was such an incredibly moving experience to join with thousands of other Sydneysiders to pay our respects to Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson. My heart breaks for their family and friends, and my thoughts are with the surviving hostages in the aftermath of this tragic ordeal. I was so overwhelmed to see Sydney come together to grieve, to reflect, but also to hope. Although there is a great sadness over the events of the past few days, It has been comforting to see that we truly live in a beautiful and compassionate city. #sydneysiege #prayforsydney #sydneystrong #martinplace A photo posted by Karen Tong (@kazcat3) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:06am PST
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Sydney we will not be beaten #Sydney #illridewithyou #australia #wearestrong #SydneySiege A photo posted by Pip Parbery (@creationsbypip) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:59pm PST