Police Stormed The Cafe In Sydney Where A Gunman Had Taken Several People Hostage

The hostage situation has ended after police stormed the cafe.
Two people — the gunman and a hostage — have died.
The gunman has been identified as 49-year-old Man Haron Monis, who is out on bail and facing a charge of accessory to murder in a previous case.

A gunman took a group of more than a dozen people hostage inside a Lindt cafe in Sydney on Monday and forced them to hold up a black flag with white Arabic writing in the window.

Police fired a volley of shells into the building before forcing their way inside the cafe after a 16-hour standoff.

More gunshots followed shortly afterwards. Television footage showed the cafe, which had been in darkness since just after sunset, being lit up inside by gunfire. Several hostages were seen fleeing right before police went in.

Police have named a 49-year-old Iranian, Man Haron Monis, as the gunman. He's currently out on bail and facing a charge of accessory to murder in an unrelated case. Monis has a long rap sheet that also includes charges of sexual assault.

Australian journalist Chris Reason reported that "the two dead are the gunman and a hostage. The hostage killed by the gunman."

Paramedics were on scene.

screenshot

Here they are entering the building:

And helping hostages:

Peter Parks/Getty Images

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Earlier in the day, five people came running out of the cafe. Fifteen people were reportedly still trapped after that.

Rueters

It is unclear whether the five hostages escaped on their own or were released.


Police negotiated with the hostage-taker for more than 12 hours.

According to videos posted to YouTube that were taken down, a gunman holding the hostages says he is a member of the Islamic State. There is no confirmed connection between the man and Islamic militant groups.

The videos show requests for a safe line of communication with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to negotiate. Hostages in the cafe also contacted media organizations to voice demands from the gunman. 

"This is a very disturbing incident," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a televised message. "It is profoundly shocking that innocent people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation."

Police have been unable to confirm the exact number of people in the cafe.

So far, nobody has been harmed.

"It might take a bit of time, and I can assure you we want to resolve this peacefully," deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn said.

Local news stations captured footage of some hostages fleeing the cafe:

Getty ImagesTwo hostages escaping the cafe in Sydney.

REUTERS/David Gray

REUTERS/Jason ReedA hostage runs towards a police officer outside Lindt cafe, where other hostages are being held, in Martin Place in central Sydney December 15, 2014.

Police are on scene:

Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

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