Hostages held inside Sydney cafe, area sealed, police says no contact with hostage taker
IndiaToday.in Sydney, Monday, December 15, 2014
Several people inside a chocolate shop and cafe could be seen through the windows with their hands held in the air in Sydney.
Here are the live updates:
10:23 AM: Indian consulate which is 300 metres away from the cafe has been evacuated.
10:12 AM: Two hostages and 1 customer managed to get out of the cafe, say reports.
10:07 AM: The Australian National Imams Council, commenting on the siege at a Sydney cafe on Monday, said it "condemns this criminal act unequivocally".
09:43 AM: US consulate in Sydney evacuated.
09:02 AM: Pictures showed a black and white flag similar to those used by Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria being held up by what appeared to be a staff member and another woman.
08:45 AM: Australian police said on Monday they had not had direct contact with an armed offender holding an undisclosed number of people hostage at a cafe in central Sydney.
"We have moved to a footing that would be consistent with a terrorist event," New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters in Sydney.
Scipione said the siege was contained to a single event in Sydney's central business district and that the city remained open for business.
07:30 AM: Major banks closed their offices in the central business district and people were told to avoid the area. Shops in a four block radius were shut.
07:00 AM: "We don't yet know if this is politically motivated, although there are some indications that it might be," Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in Canberra.
06:37 AM: New South Wales state police would not say what was happening inside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe or whether hostages were being held. But television footage shot through the cafe's windows showed several people with their arms in the air and hands pressed against the glass.
The footage showed two people inside the cafe holding up what appeared to be a black flag with white Arabic writing on it. It was not immediately clear what the flag said. Heavily-armed officers were lined up outside the cafe.
A police spokeswoman said no injuries had been reported from the incident.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the National Security Committee of Cabinet met to be briefed on the situation.
"This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner," Abbott said in a statement.
The cafe is located in Martin Place, a plaza in the heart of the city's financial and shopping district that is packed with holiday shoppers this time of year. It is home to the state premier's office, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the headquarters of two of the nation's largest banks. The state parliament house is a few blocks away.
Streets in the area were closed, offices evacuated and the public told to stay away.
Inputs from Reuters
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