Frightening news for the parents of seven Ulladulla students with reports gunman Man Haron Monis was sitting inside the Lindt Chocolate Café at the time the teenagers were photographed outside the building on Monday morning.
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Police believe Monis sat in the cafe in Sydney's Martin Place and sipped coffee for at least an hour before taking 17 people hostage and later killing two.
At that time the students, who were on a two-day St John's the Evangelist High School excursion, were photographed with Channel Seven’s Sunrise stars, including the Cash Cow, in front of the Lindt Cafe windows.
It is believed Monis was in the cafe from 8.30am and the students were only metres away, outside the building from about 9am until 9.30am before leaving the plaza for Darling Harbour.
They made a potentially life-saving decision not to enter the Lindt Cafe only minutes before the siege began at 9.40am.
The six teenagers were relieved to be home with their families on Tuesday afternoon where they learned just how close they were to being caught up in in the 17-hour siege that brought the city to a stand-still.
The students had sent family members photos of themselves with the Sunrise crew in Martin Place and their concerned parents were unable to contact the group for up to half an hour, but were relieved to discover the group had left the area shortly before the CBD lock-down.
Joanne West-Field was beside herself with worry after hearing about the siege only minutes after receiving a photo from her daughter Bridget and her classmates.
“Having received a snapchat at 9.38am of the girls outside Sunrise, when I heard of the siege shortly after my stomach sank,” Mrs West-Field said.
“I knew they were in the vicinity and I prayed they hadn't had a chocolate urge.
“I tried texting, calling with no response and it wasn't until I heard her voice there was some relief.”
Jeff Thoroughgood told the Times he was pleased to learn the school group, including his daughter Paris, had left the area and were safe in Darling Harbour when the tragic events unfolded.
He said, with three people killed, including two hostages and the gunman at 2.15am on Tuesday, it was “distressing to think what could have happened”.
“We were obviously very relieved given the outcome of the siege and having now found out that just prior they were debating whether to go into the cafe but decided not too,” he said.
“It's distressing when you think what nearly happened, but thanks to the teachers for looking after the kids and our thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones in the siege.”
Before heading back to their accommodation in Randwick, Paris told her parents it was “frightening” to know the siege was happening right alongside them.
The 30 year nine and 10 students from across the Shoalhaven were on an end of year sightseeing and shopping tour in the CBD and visited venues including Martin Place, Madam Tussauds and Darling Harbour.
As part of the excursion the group watched Channel 7's Sunrise program being filmed on Monday morning at the station’s studio in Martin Place.
They had their photos taken with the news crew and Cash Cow before walking past the popular chocolate cafe and heading to Darling Harbour.
St John’s principal Neil McCann said on Monday the group had decided to "take stock and reassess their plan" following the incident that brought Sydney to a stand-still.
He said the decision was made for the school group to stay overnight in Sydney and return home to the Shoalhaven on Tuesday to avoid catching a train from Central Station.