The man who took 18 people hostage at a Sydney cafe last year was educated and erratic, secretive about his own life and public about his many grievances, and a self-obsessed fabulist who grew increasingly defiant as he edged closer to launching his deadly attack, lawyers told an inquest Monday.

Police in Sydney, Australia have confirmed the gunman who took hostages in a cafe in the city's central business district is Man Haron Monis, a self-styled "Muslim cleric and peace activist." Monis, who as of Monday morning has been involved in a standoff with law enforcement at the cafe for over 12 hours, is currently "on bail for accessory to murder," according to the Australian.

An Iranian refugee convicted of sexual assault and known for sending hate letters to the families of Australian soldiers killed overseas is the armed man holding an unknown number of hostages in a Sydney café, a police source said on Tuesday.

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