A Black and White Banner With the Shahada in the Window of a Sydney Cafe--What Could It Possibly Mean?

I understand the need to not jump to conclusions while a crisis is still unfolding. But as in the case of the Fort Hood shrink who screamed "Allahu Akbar" as he proceeded to pick off infidels with his shotgun, it's safe to assume that the situation in Sydney has something to do with jihad.


Update: And, of course, what would an unfolding crisis involving jihad be without the obligatory talk of a "backlash" ?

Twitter users pledged their support for Australian Muslims facing a possible backlash as a suspected Islamist gunman took hostages in a Sydney cafe. The hashtag #IllRideWithYou trended globally as unconfirmed reports suggest that women in traditional Muslim dress had been been intimidated on public transport in Sydney. Australian Muslim leaders also released a statement condemning the cafe siege, calling it a "despicable act."

Sigh. It's all so boringly, tediously predictable.

Update: Robert Spencer writes re the black and white banner and the stupefied reaction to it:

The flag says in Arabic, “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet” – the Islamic confession of faith. It will thus be hard to claim this one was workplace violence, but the mainstream media and Western leaders are no doubt already strategizing on ways to do so. Falling quickly into politically correct lockstep and ignoring the jihad flag in the window, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott insisted that “we don’t know the motivation” of the gunmen.

Yeah, it's, like, a complete mystery.

Update: The Age headline--Sydney siege casts pall over Christmas shopping.

Gee, ya think?