Palmares
15th December 2014, 07:54
15 December 2014 Last updated at 07:36
Sydney siege: Hostages held in Lindt cafe
A gunman is holding staff and customers hostage at a cafe in Sydney, Australia.
The Lindt cafe in the city centre is surrounded by armed police. Officers have made contact with the gunman.
Five people have been seen running from the building. It is not clear how many remain inside. A black Islamic flag has been displayed at the window.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was "profoundly shocking" that people were being "held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation".
Speaking in Canberra, Mr Abbott also said: "Australia is a peaceful, open and generous society - nothing should ever change that and that's why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual."
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Tony Abbott: "This is a very disturbing incident"
Senior police officers say they are on a footing "consistent with a terrorist event".
The incident began as people were arriving for work in Martin Place on Monday. Witnesses saw a man with a bag and gun walk into the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe.
Lindt said about 10 employees and 30 customers were thought to be inside at the time. Nearby offices were evacuated and police asked people to remain indoors and away from open windows.
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says an enormous police operation is in place, on a scale few Sydney residents will have seen.
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New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says an armed offender is holding hostages
About six hours into the siege, three people were seen running from the building housing the cafe. Two more people followed about an hour later. It is not clear whether they escaped or were released.
"We will work with these people to figure out more information. We do not have information to suggest that anyone is harmed at this stage," said New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn after the first three came out.
Police negotiators were now in contact with the gunman, she added. The suspect also contacted local media and reportedly issued demands.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg
Eyewitness
Siouxsie Ford, a partner at a law firm, is inside her office near Martin Place, which has been locked down by police.
She told the BBC: "There's a large media presence around the security perimeter, an ambulance, a fire truck and police cars.
"We are very concerned about what's going on inside the cafe. People in my office are watching out of the windows, or watching what's happening on TV.
"The building management has been broadcasting alerts. We were told the lifts and doors were locked. We haven't been told when exactly we can leave, but if there is a window of opportunity we can leave immediately and so we are on standby."
Eyewitnesses speak to the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30474494)
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727556_4b0065b5-7948-4029-be47-2ffb6b6525d0.jpg Apparent hostages inside the cafe were seen holding up a black flag with Arabic script on it
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727562_936763fb-44ff-4f1b-8a30-9b3c0c50e6f2.jpg Heavily armed police are surrounding the cafe
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727276_3cd45413-2a12-4b64-bcc4-f958e5f6a5be.jpg Roads have been shut down and the Martin Place station is closed
In a statement on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LindtChocolateCafe/posts/10152646548129965), Lindt said it was "deeply concerned over this serious incident".
An armed man wearing a backpack and a bandana could be seeing walking around inside the cafe.
Television footage showed at least three people, thought to be employees of the cafe and who were visibly distressed, holding a black sign with the Islamic creed written on it up to the window.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the flag was similar to but not the same as that used by the Islamic State militant group in the Middle East.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727564_8ae74c5f-3c10-4bbe-8263-09afe4f3211f.jpg Police have upped their security checks across the city
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727560_70123922-ac5b-4c7d-a982-049d62172273.jpg Police have been escorting people out of nearby buildings
Martin Place is home to the state premier's office and the headquarters of two of the nation's largest banks. The state parliament house is also only a few streets away.
Australia - which has sent fighter jets to join the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq - raised its terror threat level in September.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg
Australia's terror threat timeline
21 Jul: Officials say Australian suicide bomber behind Iraq blast; concern grows over the number of Australians fighting for Islamist militant groups in the Middle East and the effect of them and their supporters on domestic security.
12 Sep: Australia raises terror threat level from medium to high, for the first time since the system was introduced in 2003.
14 Sep: Prime Minister Tony Abbott commits 600 troops to fight against Islamic State, as part of a multilateral effort.
18 Sep: Australia carries out what it calls its biggest counter-terrorism raid; Mr Abbott later says this was linked to an alleged plot by Australia-based individuals to kill a randomly selected member of the public.
29 Oct: New laws designed to stop Australians fighting in overseas conflicts are passed by the senate.
Timeline: Australia's terror threat (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30474414)
What is Islamic State? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29052144)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30473983
Sydney siege: Hostages held in Lindt cafe
A gunman is holding staff and customers hostage at a cafe in Sydney, Australia.
The Lindt cafe in the city centre is surrounded by armed police. Officers have made contact with the gunman.
Five people have been seen running from the building. It is not clear how many remain inside. A black Islamic flag has been displayed at the window.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was "profoundly shocking" that people were being "held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation".
Speaking in Canberra, Mr Abbott also said: "Australia is a peaceful, open and generous society - nothing should ever change that and that's why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual."
Jump media player (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30473983)
Media player help (http://www.bbc.co.uk/faqs/online/mp_accessibility_help)
Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30473983#afterFlash)
Tony Abbott: "This is a very disturbing incident"
Senior police officers say they are on a footing "consistent with a terrorist event".
The incident began as people were arriving for work in Martin Place on Monday. Witnesses saw a man with a bag and gun walk into the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe.
Lindt said about 10 employees and 30 customers were thought to be inside at the time. Nearby offices were evacuated and police asked people to remain indoors and away from open windows.
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says an enormous police operation is in place, on a scale few Sydney residents will have seen.
Jump media player (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30473983)
Media player help (http://www.bbc.co.uk/faqs/online/mp_accessibility_help)
Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30473983#afterFlash)
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says an armed offender is holding hostages
About six hours into the siege, three people were seen running from the building housing the cafe. Two more people followed about an hour later. It is not clear whether they escaped or were released.
"We will work with these people to figure out more information. We do not have information to suggest that anyone is harmed at this stage," said New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn after the first three came out.
Police negotiators were now in contact with the gunman, she added. The suspect also contacted local media and reportedly issued demands.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg
Eyewitness
Siouxsie Ford, a partner at a law firm, is inside her office near Martin Place, which has been locked down by police.
She told the BBC: "There's a large media presence around the security perimeter, an ambulance, a fire truck and police cars.
"We are very concerned about what's going on inside the cafe. People in my office are watching out of the windows, or watching what's happening on TV.
"The building management has been broadcasting alerts. We were told the lifts and doors were locked. We haven't been told when exactly we can leave, but if there is a window of opportunity we can leave immediately and so we are on standby."
Eyewitnesses speak to the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30474494)
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727556_4b0065b5-7948-4029-be47-2ffb6b6525d0.jpg Apparent hostages inside the cafe were seen holding up a black flag with Arabic script on it
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727562_936763fb-44ff-4f1b-8a30-9b3c0c50e6f2.jpg Heavily armed police are surrounding the cafe
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727276_3cd45413-2a12-4b64-bcc4-f958e5f6a5be.jpg Roads have been shut down and the Martin Place station is closed
In a statement on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LindtChocolateCafe/posts/10152646548129965), Lindt said it was "deeply concerned over this serious incident".
An armed man wearing a backpack and a bandana could be seeing walking around inside the cafe.
Television footage showed at least three people, thought to be employees of the cafe and who were visibly distressed, holding a black sign with the Islamic creed written on it up to the window.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the flag was similar to but not the same as that used by the Islamic State militant group in the Middle East.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727564_8ae74c5f-3c10-4bbe-8263-09afe4f3211f.jpg Police have upped their security checks across the city
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79727000/jpg/_79727560_70123922-ac5b-4c7d-a982-049d62172273.jpg Police have been escorting people out of nearby buildings
Martin Place is home to the state premier's office and the headquarters of two of the nation's largest banks. The state parliament house is also only a few streets away.
Australia - which has sent fighter jets to join the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq - raised its terror threat level in September.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg
Australia's terror threat timeline
21 Jul: Officials say Australian suicide bomber behind Iraq blast; concern grows over the number of Australians fighting for Islamist militant groups in the Middle East and the effect of them and their supporters on domestic security.
12 Sep: Australia raises terror threat level from medium to high, for the first time since the system was introduced in 2003.
14 Sep: Prime Minister Tony Abbott commits 600 troops to fight against Islamic State, as part of a multilateral effort.
18 Sep: Australia carries out what it calls its biggest counter-terrorism raid; Mr Abbott later says this was linked to an alleged plot by Australia-based individuals to kill a randomly selected member of the public.
29 Oct: New laws designed to stop Australians fighting in overseas conflicts are passed by the senate.
Timeline: Australia's terror threat (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30474414)
What is Islamic State? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29052144)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30473983