Hostages held in siege in Martin Place, Sydney in lockdown

Hostages are being forced to hold an Islamic flag against the window of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place after at least one gunman stormed the premises.

About 20 staff and customers are being held at gunpoint inside the cafe.

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A number of people could be seen through the windows with their hands held in the air.

Police confirmed an operation was under way at the shop in Martin Place.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said officers were called to the shop about 9.45am on Monday. She urged people to stay away from Martin Place.

A woman is believed to have raised the alarm at 9.44am when she saw a man outside the cafe carrying a blue sports bag with a gun inside.

There are reports that there could be two gunman inside the cafe, although police have not confirmed this.

The cafe is right in the middle of the banking and retail district, and is usually packed with Christmas shoppers at this time of year.

The Channel Seven newsroom, which faces Martin Place, has been evacuated, along with the Macquarie Bank and Westpac offices in the area.

The Martin Place studio is Seven's main newsroom and home to breakfast show Sunrise and The Morning Show, which was on air when news of the siege broke about 9.45am.

The network was originally running a live-stream of the siege, but was asked to take it down for security reasons.

It is unknown if any Seven staff are among the hostages.

State Parliament, which is one block away from the cafe, has also been closed to the public, while David Jones's flagship store in the city was also being evacuated.

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Terrified customers in the cafe could be seen holding an Islamic flag - which is black with white writing on it - up against the glass window. The flag appears to be a Shahada flag, not an Islamic State flag, but is associated with Islamist and jihadist movements.

Trains between Central and Bondi Junction were initially stopped, but the Transport Management Centre said services resumed about 10.45am. However trains will not stop at Martin Place.

Journalist Chris Kenny, who was in the shop about 20 minutes before the siege began, said he understood the automatic glass sliding doors had been disabled.

"I did speak to a couple of people who saw a bit more of this unfold than I did," he said.

"One woman said she tried to go into the shop just after I came out with my takeaway coffee but the doors wouldn't open.

"So obviously whoever is doing this has disabled the automatic glass sliding doors to stop anyone else going in and she said immediately she could see there was a weapon.

"She mentioned it being taken out of a blue bag and people were straight away asked to put up their hands."

A man who gave his name only as Bruno said he'd worked in the cafe for six months.

"I was supposed to start at 10am," he said while visibly shaken.

That was about 15 minutes after the seige started and he was unable to get inside.

A spokesman for federal Transport Minister Warren Truss said: "The airspace over the Sydney CBD is not in shut down. There are choppers in the air and air traffic is being rerouted according. At this stage no impact on the air traffic network."

Broadcaster Ray Hadley was reporting on Monday that the gunman had told negotiators he wanted to talk to Prime Minister Tony Abbott live on radio. Police have not confirmed this.

In September this year, police conducted a series of major anti-terrorism raids across Sydney. Following those raids, police alleged Islamic extremists were planning to behead a person in Martin Place in Sydney's CBD.

Shortly after the siege began, the US Consulate sent an "emergency message" to its citizens warning them to stay away from Martin Place.

The message read: "U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to review your personal security plan, remain aware of your surroundings including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security."

Police clear Martin Place after gunman holds hostages at Lindt Chocolat Cafe

Gunman takes hostages in cafe in Sydney [at] | Daily Mail Online

A live feed;

Live: Hostages held in siege in Martin Place - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

RMED men are holding 40 to 50 people hostage at a cafe in Martin Place in Sydney.
There are reports that two gunman have taken hostages, some of which are standing with their hands up at the windows in the popular Lindt chocolate shop, which has two or three entrances. There is also a black and white flag being held up in a window. It is believed to be the Black Standard, a jihadist flag.
Lindt Australia CEO Steve Loane told news.com.au he believes there are 40 to 50 people inside the cafe, including customers and staff.
Other reports are suggesting there may only be 13 hostages.
Jihadist flag at city centre siege
One of the men believed to be holding people hostage: Courtesy: Channel 7 Source: Channel 7
Jihadist flag at city centre siege
Picture: Courtesy of Channel 7. Source: Channel 7
The National Security Committee of Cabinet has met for briefings on the situation this morning.
In a statement, Tony Abbott said he had also spoken with NSW Premier Mike Baird and “offered him all possible Commonwealth support and assistance”.
“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,” he said.
Mr Baird said his thoughts and prayers were with those affected.
“I’ve spoken to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione & have full confidence NSW Police are working effectively to resolve the situation,” Mr Baird said.
Staff in shop aprons can be seen with their hands on the windows. Police officers have guns drawn outside the cafe.
A Lindt cafe worker who managed to get out of the building told Nine News: “Everyone was sitting down, the door was locked. There was one guy walking around with a hat and a beard.”
Channel 7 reported that a woman told police that she saw a man near the cafe at 9.44am carrying a blue sports bag with what she thought was a gun inside.
The chocolate shop is 30 or 40 metres from the Channel 7 offices so they have cameras trained on the building. Channel 7 has been evacuated. There are also reports that nearby Sydney landmarks including the Opera House, State Library and Art Gallery NSW have been evacuated.
Seven reporter Chris Reason is currently on the corner of Philip and Hunter St where all five floors of Channel 7 staff were evacuated. He told news.com.au that he is with several hundred people from Seven and surrounding buildings.
He confirmed that police entered Channel 7 at 10am to use their building as a viewing point after the incident first happened at 9.44am.
Courtesy of Channel 7.
Courtesy of Channel 7. Source: Channel 7
At 10.20am the entire building was evacuated and the central hosting duties was transferred to Melbourne to broadcast out of there.
Police have erected a large black shield to cover the corner of the Lindt Store from view.
“It’s tense, people are obviously concerned for the people inside. During the initial minutes when the evacuation happened there was, of course, a lot of concern, a lot of anguish from some staff. But nobody resisted, we all followed police orders. Right now, outside the building there is a mix of curiosity and concern and hope that the people inside get out OK.”
Currently there are at least 100 police and tactical units stationed in Martin Place
“I was at a cafe right next to the Lindt Store when I noticed people suddenly running towards the building and looking in. At 9.45 I sort of approached and realised what was happening. At first we thought it was an armed holdup because the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) is next door and there were armoured vehicles outside. When we saw the hostages against the windows holding up the flags it was quickly apparent that this was severely urgent.”


When asked whether he thought why the men may have chosen Martin Place, he said: “It’s hard to tell, as we saw in the terror raids in September, Martin Place would be a target. It might not be iconic Sydney location but it is deeply symbolic, on top of our building (Seven) is the State Government, the treasurer the minister, beside it is the financial heart of Sydney with the reserve bank and right in the centre is the cenotaph and ANZAC memorial so it ticks so many boxes when trying to make a political statement.”
There are State Government agencies in the same building and police have shut down traffic in a wide perimeter surrounding the incident. Surrounding buildings are also in lockdown.

There is no confirmation yet whether this is a terrorist attack.
A police statement confirmed that they were dealing with an armed incident and specialist officers were attempting to make contact those inside a café.
“Some nearby offices have been evacuated as a precaution. Anyone else in the area encompassing Hunter, George, Elizabeth and Macquarie streets bordering Martin Place is directed to remain indoors and away from open windows. Anyone in the vicinity but outside that area is free to leave their buildings,” the statement said.
“Police urge members of the public to remain calm and note that an appropriate police presence is in place.
The Martin Place train station is shut and trains and buses around the area have reportedly been stopped, including trains between Bondi Junction and Central. Roads are blocked.
A Transport for Sydney spokeswoman told news.com.au that conditions were still changing and they would follow directions from police.
“This is chilling,” said The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies of the scene as she watched on with host Larry Emdur from the Channel 7 news studios. The duo are now off air.

Lindt Chocolat Cafe


Martin Place has been completely shut down during what is a busy time for Christmas shoppers and kids on school holidays.
“The police operation is under way, we’re urging people to avoid the area while it’s under way,” a police spokesman told news.com.au
This morning a Sydney man was taken into custody on suspicion of terrorism related offences after a morning raid from counter terrorism units of the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police.
AFP confirmed a 25-year-old Beecroft man was arrested by NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) as part of continuing investigations into the planning of a terrorist attack on Australian soil and the facilitation of travel of Australian citizens to Syria to engage in armed combat.




The Black Standard is a jihadist flag also known as the standard of Mohammed. It carries the symbol of the eagle and was one of the flags flown by the prophet Mohammed. It is used by jihadists and Islamists.
In August 2014, British Prime Minister David Cameron declared anyone carrying The Black Standard could be arrested.
It is also banned from public demonstration in the Netherlands
The use of the image the flag for non-educational purposes is forbidden in Germany.
The unfolding situation follows a series of dramatic counterterrorism raids across Sydney in September this year in which 15 people were detained. Omarjan Azari, 22, was arrested and accused of conspiring with Mohammed Ali Baryalei, the most senior Australian involved in Islamic State.
Australian Federal Police Acting Commissioner Andrew Colvin said at the time “Police believe this group had started planning to commit violent acts in Australia. Those acts related to random acts against public.”
It’s understood there were plans to grab a random person off the street in Martin Place and execute them while posting a video to social media. The ABC also reported at the time Brisbane based suspects had bought machetes, balaclavas and military fatigues
Commonwealth prosecutor Michael Allnutt said at the time the act was designed to shock and terrify. “I don’t think I’ve seen much worse,” he said.
“It’s been an immediate reaction to a clear, imperative danger. There is still an enormous amount of material for police to assess.”

Martin Place cafe siege | Sydney CBD hostages at Lindt cafe

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott will hold a media conference in Canberra to discuss the Sydney CBD siege at 12.30pm (AEDT).

MR Abbott met with the national security committee of cabinet in Canberra as the siege unfolded around 10am.

Up to a dozen hostages are being held inside the Lindt cafe in Sydney's Martin Place where an Islamist flag is pressed up against one of its windows.

"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," Mr Abbott said.

Up to a dozen hostages are believed to being held by gunmen inside the Lindt cafe in Sydney's Martin Place with an Islamist flag pressed up against one of its windows.


Abbott to address media on Sydney siege

cue pseudolus telling us its the aussies fault.

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Originally Posted by taxexile

cue pseudolus telling us its the aussies fault.

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He will just say that the Americans are behind it..

Another Islamic human sacrifice ritual.

When do these pagan ragheads get off the bus?

Good luck Oz, wipe em!!

Haven't read all but it must be those dastardly ISIS, Isle or is Al qaeda baddies whatever the US is calling them now!

Fucking Muslims again.
The Christians and Jews ought to start doing things like this then KW and his ilk could say "but it's not only Muslims who do things like this , look at ..........incident"
Islam should be banned outright.
It's an evil religion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by taxexile

cue pseudolus telling us its the aussies fault.

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Well I was actually going to say that the one on the left looks a bit of alright but dismissed that as being insensitive

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Of course it is the Aussies fault - every aussie who has voted in a succession of axis of evil supporting governments, never questioned foreign policy and support given to the evil partners, and the acceptance of the media in stirring up hatred. This includes the aussies in the cafe who are holding the guns.

My mate in Sydney told me that there are reports of 5 bombs scattered around the city as well. I wonder what draconian liberty taking laws abbot has up his sleave that until this morning he was worried would be rejected by the public that will now sail through in a roar of triumph?

Yup, Abbot's in trouble with the popularity stakes but I don't think he's gonna pull a winner over this hostage trick unless he keeps the Oz public onside while popping the ragheads.

Islam should be banned outright.
It's an evil religion.

I'm coming round to agree with you.
Time for some extreme prejudice.

I do hope the gunmans day ends badly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lantern

Islam should be banned outright.
It's an evil religion.

I'm coming round to agree with you.
Time for some extreme prejudice.

I do hope the gunmans day ends badly.

---

So to be clear, you are advocating "thought police" then?

The force is strong in you pal. :chitown:


The twats holding the hostages do indeed need a bullet in the head. But then they will die as martyrs which in a way is what they want. If there is only 2 of them, time for some of the people in the cafe to man the fuck up and take the coonts down.

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Originally Posted by pseudolus

If there is only 2 of them, time for some of the people in the cafe to man the fuck up and take the coonts down.

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Brave words from behind a keyboard in another country.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pseudolus

If there is only 2 of them, time for some of the people in the cafe to man the fuck up and take the coonts down.

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Brave words from behind a keyboard in another country.

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Indeed. I would expect you would get in the mix though.

They don't really have much choice though. Two brainwashed bastards who will no doubt be planning to kill some random innocent people no matter what.

I've never had any issues with Muslims.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Koojo

Islam should be banned outright.

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What will that achieve ?

Can you ban it ?

Why don't we just ban extremism, that will solve all the word's problems. :rolleyes:

Should be fairly easy for a sniper to take the mong out.

Timing's the problem, has to be simultaneously, if two.

Police confirmed Monday afternoon that three people had escaped from a cafe where an armed gunman had earlier taken several people hostage and forced two people to hold what appeared to be a black flag bearing Islamic slogans written in Arabic in the store's window.

The three people were seen on live video footage bolting out of the door past heavily armed police and then disappearing around a corner. New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner for Specialist Operations Catherine Burn confirmed to Sky News Australia that the three had escaped, though authorities did not immediately know how they had done so.
Police confirm three people escape Sydney cafe where gunman holds hostages | Fox News

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Should be fairly easy for a sniper to take the mong out.

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Not too many good snipers about these days in Sydney.

They might need three snipers.



A SYDNEY man who came face-to-face with the hostage gunman says he threatened to “shoot him too”.

Craig Stoker was walking down Phillip Street after buying a coffee in the Lindt Cafe when he bumped into the gunman.

“He was wearing a black T-shirt with white writing on it and a headband and carrying a blue bag.

“The bag bumped into me and there was something hard in it.

“I said ‘watch where you are f***ing going’.

“He turned round and said ‘do you want me to shoot you too?.’ I looked into his eyes and they were crazy,” said Mr Stoker, a father of four from Eastlakes. “I was pretty freaked out.”

The bearded man was with two others who were similarly dressed.

No Cookies | dailytelegraph.com.au

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Originally Posted by ENT

Timing's the problem, has to be simultaneously, if two.

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Send in a Drone and bomb the whole area. Seems to be the preferred route on foreign soil. Just release a statement saying some civilians were caught up in the action which is an unfortunate side effect of the continuing efforts in the war on terror.

[quote=ENT;2918765]Police confirmed Monday afternoon that three people had escaped from a cafe where an armed gunman had earlier taken several people hostage



I hope that's true, but a while ago I saw people being led out of a 'neighboring' building with some hysterical TV talking head shrieking that the hostages were coming out.

Time will tell. Might be true. Back exit? From kitchen perhaps? Hope so.

3 hostages are out. Cops conversing with the gunman.

^Good news.