Preparations are underway for the reopening of the Martin Place Lindt café where gunman Man Haron Monis took 18 hostages, and café manager Tori Johnson and lawyer Katrina Dawson lost their lives.
Steve Loane, the Chief Executive of Lindt Australia has confirmed that the cafe will remain in the siege location and will include a permanent memorial honouring the victims. The cafe has remained boarded up since December.
The families of the victims have expressed support for the move, saying Tori and Katrina would have wanted Martin Place to resume its status as one of Sydney’s most social hubs.
Katrina Dawson’s family said they hope they’ll be able to attend the café when they feel up to it, so that [Katrina’s] children can continue to enjoy what was one of her great joys.
Tory Johnson’s partner Thomas Zinn said that Tori loved making people happy and that he wanted people to return to Martin Place and smile again.
No details were provided regarding what shape the indoor memorial will take. A makeshift floral memorial transformed the Martin Place site following the siege as thousands expressed their grief by laying bouquets.
Will you be visiting the Lindt cafe when it reopens?
