Sydney Siege Selfies: Social Media Users Slammed As 'Disgusting & Disrespectful'

As an ongoing hostage situation continues in Sydney, a number of people have been spotted taking beaming “selfies” at the scene.

Crowds are gathering at the Lindt café on Martin Place, downtown Sydney, where there is believed to be a gunman who has forced hostages to hold a black flag with Arabic writing in the window of the cafe.

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While armed police assess the situation and relatives of those taken hostage pray for their safe release, some bystanders are choosing to mark the drama by taking jolly photographs of themselves at the scene.

Those who have posted selfies have been slammed on social media as "disgusting" and "disrespectful".

Five people have escaped but many people are still held at the siege site.

"We don't know whether this is politically motivated, although obviously there are some indications that it could be," Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters earlier in the nation's capital, Canberra. "We have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours, there are people who would wish to do us harm."

The 8 Selfies You Must Absolutely, Positively Never Take

1. The funeral selfie.

It's really too bad all her makeup got cried off, because the whole point of funerals is to take the attention away from the deceased person and focus on how you look. For more people who feel compelled to take pictures of themselves at services for deceased friends or family members, check out the "Selfies at Funerals" Tumblr.

2. The driving selfie.

What's worse? Taking a selfie while driving or texting while driving? Hahaha...you're probably gonna die.

3. Or tempting fate even further with the selfie in front of someone else's car accident.

Hahaha, that could have been you!

4. The selfie that shows your teacher having contractions.

When this guy saw his teacher going into labor, he had the presence of mind to hop up and take a selfie.

5. The bloody selfie.

Kevin Rudd, an Australian politician, is no stranger to selfies. Seriously though, did we need to know that you suck at shaving?

6. The hallowed ground selfie.

Get it? This guy is at the site of the world's worst radioactive disaster, where an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant caused a chemical fire that burned for more than ten days. A quarter of a million people lost their homes, thousands ultimately died and countless Ukrainians are still feeling residual health effects of the massive meltdown.

7. The selfie in front of a homeless person.

Because nothing says you appreciate your privileged life like taking a picture in front of someone sleeping on the ground. He even threw up the deuces...

8. The "look at this guy in the bathroom" selfie.

We were gonna complain about how privacy has been completely destroyed by the selfie, but this is just hilarious.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this post named the Russian Grand Duchess as "Anastasia Nikolaevna"; her name is in fact Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova.