Fears Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis had a bomb during the 16-hour ordeal kept police from storming the Lindt cafe but officers have been disappointed by comments from a hostage.
Marcia Mikhael, who was shot in the leg during the siege, was critical of the time it took police to intervene.
During a paid interview aired on Sunday evening she said the army would have handled the situation better.
But a source involved in the police response said officers were worried Monis had a 4kg bomb in his backpack.
If it had gone off, the blast could have reached more than 100 metres from the Martin Place site, he said.
"The bomb squad was there thinking this guy still had a bomb," he told AAP.
"The police that went in there were expecting it to explode.
He also praised the work of specialist police, contradicting Ms Mikhael and saying they were the "best of the best."
"I think a lot of police are probably a bit upset," he said.
Dates for a coronial inquiry into the siege are expected to be announced in March.
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