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1. Police conduct home raids in Lakemba
Status: Busted
2GB host Ray Hadley on Monday made several significant but unconfirmed claims on air.
Around 11.30am he reported that Australian Federal Police were carrying out home raids in Lakemba. However this rumour was quickly proven false.
There were 20 officers doing a pre-arranged tour of Lakemba Mosque as part of a police induction day, which may have been the source of the rumours.
Police commissioner Andrew Scipione confirmed there were terror raids conducted earlier on Monday morning that resulted in the arrest of a 25-year-old Beecroft man. However at this stage there is "no connection" between the raids and the siege, Mr Scipione said.
Mr Hadley later retracted his comments.
Sydney 2GB radio shock jock Ray Hadley now retracting many of his earlier claims about
#SydneySiege. Appalling 'journalism' — The Daily Rupert (@TheMurdochTimes)
December 15, 2014
2. Gunman makes demands and threats
Status: Retracted on police advice
First Hadley, and then several other media outlets, reported being contacted by hostages inside the cafe who were instructed to convey the gunman's demands.
Police later requested media outlets not publish this series of demands, and as such these demands have been retracted by this website.
3. Terror suspect arrested near Martin Place
Status: Busted
Around 12.30pm a photo circulated online, showing a man being arrested 200 metres away from the Lindt cafe in Martin Place. It was not immediately clear whether the arrest was related to the siege.
Police arrest person 200m from siege. Police seen to have foot on what is believe to be a handgun.
#sydneysiege — Marley Blair (@MarleyBlair)
December 15, 2014
However, NSW police were quick to put any speculation to rest, posting on Twitter that the two incidents were unrelated.
Photo circulating of arrest of man near
#MartinPlace is NOT related to the police operation. — NSW Police (@nswpolice)
December 15, 2014
4. Airspace closed over Sydney CBD
Status: Busted
Several media outlets reported this morning that the air space over Sydney CBD had been closed due to the siege, something confirmed to this website by Sydney Airport.
Hearing all airspace above Sydney CBD has been closed - frightening news out of
#MartinPlace - follow
@morningshowon7 for rolling coverage — Nicola Wood (@WoodNicola)
December 14, 2014
However Airservices Australia issued a statement saying: "Sydney operations are continuing and Sydney airspace has not been closed."
This was confirmed by a spokesman for federal Transport Minister Warren Truss.
"There are choppers in the air and air traffic is being rerouted accordingly," the spokesman said.
Sydney Airport: Airport remains open, airspace around airport not shut down, flights are continuing as normal.
pic.twitter.com/Eowwx2nP1H — Adam Todd (@_AdamTodd)
December 15, 2014
5. Sydney Harbour Bridge closed
Status: Busted
Reports during the day suggested the Harbour Bridge had been closed as other buildings in the CBD were evacuated. This never occurred.
Cars and buses are being diverted due to road closures after The Harbour Bridge - Avoid the CBD
#MartinPlaceSiege
pic.twitter.com/LpmsCLbqXG — Damon O'Connor (@Damon_OConnor)
December 15, 2014
The Cahill Expressway - one of the main routes to the Bridge - was closed, with city-bound traffic diverted to the Domain Tunnel. This decreased traffic on the Bridge, however it was still accessible to motorists using other roads, including the Pacific Highway.
6. Mobile phone reception blocked in CBD
Status: Unclear
Channel Seven reported that mobile phone services had been shut down in the CBD at the request of police.
7 News: Police jam mobile phone signals in Sydney CBD as siege continues. — Kevin Yeaux (@KevinYeaux)
December 15, 2014
However this claim was later refuted by the telcos, who indicated that their services had not been disrupted.
Delays were being experienced. The issues may be related to congestion from people posting photos to social media using the mobile networks and making calls at the same time.
NSW Police is yet to comment on whether it is using any mobile phone jamming equipment, although use of such equipment is illegal unless approved by the communications regulator.
7. Uber gouging passengers $100 to get out of CBD
Status: Busted
There were reports attacking Uber for charging passengers a minimum of $100 to get out of the CBD. However, the price is automatically set by a computer algorithm based on demand.
Uber charging $100 a ride in Sydney as terrorist hostage siege ties up traffic.
http://t.co/YW01nz9B3c — Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy)
December 15, 2014
In a smartly-timed PR move, the hire care company quickly reversed its course and announced that all rides in the CBD would be free. Anyone who already paid the higher fare would be refunded.
Uber rides out of the CBD today are free for all riders to help Sydneysiders get home safely. See
http://t.co/UIwoom25Bm for more info. — Uber Sydney (@Uber_Sydney)
December 15, 2014