Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis had a history of protesting against Channel Seven'sSunrise program outside its Martin Place studio.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Tuesday the inquest into the Lindt cafe siege heard that in June 2008, Monis attempted to hand out flyers headlined "War on Islam".
The one-page leaflet alleged the Sunrise program had broadcast the following message for "Muslim doctors" during a program in July the previous year.
"If you want to kill people, why not use the tools of your own trade like a plague or a disease or something? Why go into an area which you're clearly unqualified in?"
Channel Seven's head of security, Scott McIlveena, said Monis was "very vocal" and "passionate". Mr McIlveena decided the presenters should not do their usual segment outdoors in Martin Place that morning.
Two weeks later Monis returned. As the presenters signed autographs, Monis "came up the stairs screaming", Mr McIlveena said.
"He rushed at the talent screaming 'you are killers and terrorists'."
Mr McIlveena said he put his arms out to stop Monis getting closer. Monis wanted an apology for content he said the program had aired that referenced Gold Coast doctor and wrongly accused terrorist Muhamed Haneef.
"He said, 'David Koch is the boss. He is a killer and a terrorist'," Mr McIlveena said.
"I couldn't reason with him. He definitely wanted an apology."
Monis then applied for permission to stage a protest in Martin Place on July 4, 2008. Mr McIlveena said NSW police handled it and he did not see Monis again until the siege five-and-a-half years later.
Earlier on Tuesday, veteran Channel Seven journalist David Richardson described his investigation into Monis for a program that aired on Today Tonight in 2009.
Starting with the website www.sheikharon.com Richardson tracked down various companies and addresses associated with Monis, who also referred to himself as Ayatollah Manteghi.
The inquest watched the program, in which Richardson interviewed Keysar Trad from the Lebanese Muslim Friendship Association. Mr Trad said he too had been trying to ascertain the identity of Sheik Haron and senior Muslim clerics had not heard of him.
After the program went to air, Monis complained Channel Seven and then to broadcast watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority, however the complaint was dismissed.