Barista Jieun Bae is a 20-year old university student
She arrived for work at the Lindt cafe at around 9am on Monday
Around 45 minutes later the siege started at the cafe
She escaped at around 5pm, running into the arms of the police
Ms Bae is of Korean heritage and from Sydney's north-west
By Daily Mail Australia Reporter
Published: 06:53, 16 December 2014 | Updated: 07:58, 16 December 2014
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The young woman who has become the terrified face of the Sydney cafe siege is a 20-year-old university student who had recently returned from a holiday in the U.S.
Jieun Bae arrived for work at the Lindt cafe in Martin Place at around 9am, just 45 minutes before Man Haron Monis walked in, produced a shotgun and took 17 people hostage.
She finally escaped at 5pm, when footage of her running for her life and into the arms of a heavily armed policeman became the defining moment of the siege.
Ms Bae, who is of Korean heritage and from Sydney's north-west, was described as a 'sweet girl' by friends. She is an active member of a presbyterian church.
The student has spent the day with police and is understood to have been receiving counselling. She was physically unhurt and her family was waiting to be reunited with her.
Friends who knew she worked at the cafe became desperately worried when they could not get in touch with her after news broke that people were being held hostage.
On Monday afternoon, her mother had made a heartrending plea for her daughter and urged people to pray for her safe release.
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2875613/Student-terrified-face-Sydney-siege.html
