The alarm was raised about 9.45am after onlookers reported a man with a shotgun taking hostages in the cafe.
Hostages inside the cafe have been forced to hold what appears to be an Islamic flag, identified as a Shahada flag, in the cafe’s window reading “no god worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is his messenger”.
What we know so far about the Martin Place hostage situation:
• Hostages are being held hostage in Lindt cafe in Martin Place – it is unknown how many exactly but could be as many as 20
• Hostages forced to hold up black flag with Arabic script in the windows (it is not the official ISIL banner)
• There is one gunman inside who is armed – possibly with a shotgun but more likely a handgun
• Unconfirmed radio reports have claimed the perpetrator has demanded to speak to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and claimed to have planted four explosive devices across Sydney
• The Opera House has also been evacuated as a precautionary measure
• Police raids are reportedly also taking place in Lakemba
• The federal government’s National Security Committee has convened for briefings on the situation
There are more than three tactical police units on the scene, around 50 uniformed officers and scores more detectives in plain clothes and bulletproof vests.
Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/12/15/10/00/major-police-operation-in-sydneys-martin-place#i6dvSAhcIGWeKyer.99
