How the Sydney siege unfolded

HOW THE SYDNEY SIEGE UNFOLDED - INSIDE THE LINDT CAFE

DECEMBER 15

8.33am - Man Haron Monis enters the Lindt cafe on Martin Place

* He wears camouflage pants, black jacket, baseball cap, black backpack, and carries a plastic bag

* Monis carries a hidden pump-action shotgun sawn off at butt and barrel

* He eats chocolate cake and drinks tea, then moves to a table with a view of the whole cafe. 9.03am: Monis asks to speak to the manager.

* Tori Johnson sits down with Monis.

* Staff says Johnson appears stressed during the conversation.

* Johnson says to a staff member something like, "I need you to get my keys - lock the doors - we're closed - everything is OK - tell the staff to be calm".

* The doors to the cafe are locked.

* Monis puts on a vest and a bandanna, stands up, produces the shot gun and declares, "This is an attack. I have a bomb".

* He orders staff and customers to move to northern wall of the cafe.

* Monis orders hostages to hold a flag described as being Islamic up to the windows. 9:44am: Monis tells Johnson to call triple-zero.

* Following Monis's orders, Johnson tells operator Australia is under attack by Islamic State.

* Johnson says radio bombs are in Martin Place, Circular Quay and George Street, which later proves to be false.

* Johnson tells the operator he has a gun pointed at him, Monis has taken him and others hostage.

* The call lasts 12 minutes.

9.46am: Police acknowledge the incident

9.51am: Police arrive at the scene.

9:52am: Tactical operations unit acknowledges the emergency.

10.07am: Tactical operations unit arrives

* Siege is treated as a possible terrorist attack.

* Monis had told his 18 hostages he has a bomb in his backpack, which he holds onto throughout the siege.

Mid-afternoon: Some of the hostages escape

* Monis fires his gun, striking the wall above the cafe door

DECEMBER 16

Very early AM: Monis fires his gun, striking the wall above the cafe door

2.14am: Monis forces Johnson to kneel on the floor of the cafe and shoots him in the head. Johnson dies.

* Shooting witnessed by police marksman who calls it in.

* Police force entry to the cafe, shattering the glass windows and doors

* Tactical units throw 11 flashbang grenades, creating sudden violent flashes of light and gunshot sounds

* Two police officers fire 22 shots at Monis.

* Monis returns fire, shooting shotgun once or twice at the entry team.

* Monis is killed by at least two bullets or fragments to the head and 11 other bullets or fragments to the body.

* Hostage Katrina Dawson is struck by six fragments of a police bullet or bullets, which ricochet from hard surfaces into her body.

* One fragment strikes a major blood vessel. She loses consciousness and dies.

* Three other hostages and one tactical operative are hit by ricocheting bullet fragments.

(Source: Opening statement by counsel assisting the NSW Coroner Jeremy Gormly to inquest)