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Hostage Situation in Sydney, Australia - Possibly ISIS


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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/hostages-sydney-cafe-martin-place-police-operation/5967232


Live: Hostages held in siege in Martin Place

Updated

29 minutes agoSun 14 Dec 2014, 4:48pm

A number of hostages have been taken in a siege underway in Sydney's CBD.

At least three people have been seen through the windows of a cafe in Martin Place with their hands raised.

Follow our live blog for updates.


Key points:

  • Heavily armed police have taken position around the Lindt cafe in central Sydney
  • Hostages have been seen inside the cafe with their hands in the air
  • Black flag with white Arabic writing reading "There is no God but Allah" and "Mohammed is the messenger of God" waved behind the hostages
  • Martin Place and Sydney Opera House have been evacuated
  • National Security Committee of Cabinet has convened; Prime Minister Tony Abbott described incident as "deeply concerning" and offered NSW all assistance possible.

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Martin Place siege: Hostages taken in Lindt Chocolate shop by armed robber
  • The Daily Telegraph
  • December 15, 2014 12:09PM
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  • Armed man filmed with black headband with Arabic writing
  • As many as 13 hostages held in Lindt Cafe in Martin Place
  • At least two gunmen took over cafe just before 10am
  • Opera House evacuated as a precaution
  • Customers and staff locked in David Jones in Elizabeth Street

AN ARMED man has been spotted through the door of the Lindt Cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place where at least 13 hostages are being held.

The man, who was captured by Seven News cameras, appears to be wearing a black headband with Arabic writing on it and a backpack.

Witnesses described seeing cafe staff and shoppers pinned up against the building’s front window, with their arms raised and a black and white Islamic flag in the window.

At least two gunmen are believed to be in the cafe.

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A gunman has been filmed through the door of the Lindt Cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place. Picture: Channel 7

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has spoken to the NSW Premier and the National Security Committee of Cabinet has also convened for briefings on the siege.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s office said the ongoing siege was a ‘deeply concerning incident’.

“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,” the statement read.

A squad of heavily armed specialist police officers have gathered on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Martin Place.

It is believed six Black Hawk helicopters with troops on board are headed to the city.

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Police outside the Lindt Chocolat cafe in Martin Place. Picture : Richard Dobson

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Picture : Richard Dobson

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Martin Place siege location.

Customers and staff at David Jones in Elizabeth Street have been locked in the department store while NSW Parliament has been shut down to the public.

Police have cordoned off a huge chunk of the CBD as worried crowds gather at the perimeter.

Castlereagh Street is swarming with hundreds of shocked onlookers and media personnel.

All schools and government buildings in the city are in lockdown.

A number of senior level state government officials are holed up in their Martin Place offices, overlooking the siege below.

They are awaiting instructions from police. One government source said they could see the terrified faces of the hostages looking up at them.

The area was shut down and scores of police are surrounding the building after the alarm was raised about 9.45am.

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Picture: Twitter

The Opera House has been abandoned following the discovery of a suspicious package.

Police are investigating however it is not known if it is linked to the siege at Martin Place.

Police have closed off Martin Place between Macquarie and Elizabeth Streets, and Martin Place train station has been cleared. Police have cordoned off the area to about 150m and a special police operations unit is outside the building.

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Picture : Richard Dobson

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Picture : Richard Dobson

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Armed police in Sydney's Martin Place.

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Hostages hold up an Islamic flag at Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place.

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Martin Place.

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The scene of a seige at the Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place.

Public transport between Central and Bondi Junction has been stopped.

Buses are diverting away from Elizabeth St and Hunter St.

Police are investigating reports of a suspicious package at the Opera House however they believe it is not related to the siege at Martin Place.

Police said they were receiving a host of reports all over Sydney from alarmed citizens.

There are various road closures in place and motorists are advised to stay away from the area.

In September Federal Police made a host of arrests after allegedly uncovering a plot to abduct a random Australian and execute them by beheading in a public place, possibly Martin Place and post the act on social media.

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Hostage in the Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Maritin Place.

Just before 10am it is believed an attempted robbery was taking place when the offender then took a number of hostages inside the Lindt Chocolate shop.

The area has been cordoned off and police are urging people to stay away.

Police do not know how many hostages are in the shop or what the offender is armed with.

The Lindt shop is usually very busy with four or five staff at this time.

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But honestly, just another reason why it's stulid why governments want to take away arms from citizens. While the democrats try to take American's guns, ironically there's ISIS taking hostages in Australia - a country who recently took guns away.

Oh c'mon. ..aussies drink waaaaaaaaaay too much to be allowed guns.

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But honestly, just another reason why it's stulid why governments want to take away arms from citizens. While the democrats try to take American's guns, ironically there's ISIS taking hostages in Australia - a country who recently took guns away.

Compare the homicide rate in the US to Australia.

Situations like this are greatly outweighed by citizens killing each other with guns.

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But honestly, just another reason why it's stulid why governments want to take away arms from citizens. While the democrats try to take American's guns, ironically there's ISIS taking hostages in Australia - a country who recently took guns away.

LOL!

Wait, are you serious?

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The thing I don't understand with Isis, isn't the reason they were beheading people was because they wanted The States to stop bombing them but then they attack Canada and Australia, two countries that aren't really all that involved in Isis. How is that helping Isis? Basically is giving Canada and other countries reason to come in and bomb them too.
It doesn't really make sense to me.

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