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| Hostage standoff in Sydney. Landmarks evacuated. | Hostage standoff in Sydney. Landmarks evacuated. |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Updated at 1:25 a.m. EST: | |
| New South Wales police confirmed three people have made it out of the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe in Sydney, where police said an “undisclosed” number of people were taken hostage during Monday morning rush hour. Six hours after a gunman entered the store, local TV stations reported seeing three people run from the building and hide behind heavily armed police. They appeared to be an employee and two customers, the Guardian reported. | New South Wales police confirmed three people have made it out of the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe in Sydney, where police said an “undisclosed” number of people were taken hostage during Monday morning rush hour. Six hours after a gunman entered the store, local TV stations reported seeing three people run from the building and hide behind heavily armed police. They appeared to be an employee and two customers, the Guardian reported. |
| Shortly after, local news footage showed two more people flee from the cafe. A police spokeswomen told The Washington Post that although she could confirm the reports, no official statement has been released. | |
| New South Wales Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn could not confirm how many people were still inside but told the Sydney Morning Herald the number was less than 30. | New South Wales Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn could not confirm how many people were still inside but told the Sydney Morning Herald the number was less than 30. |
| “The information that I have is that nobody has been harmed or injured at the moment,” she said. “We clearly are dealing with a situation that is unfolding and it’s happening as we speak and the most important thing is the safety of those hostages and I wouldn’t want to do anything that may impact on the safety of those hostages.” | “The information that I have is that nobody has been harmed or injured at the moment,” she said. “We clearly are dealing with a situation that is unfolding and it’s happening as we speak and the most important thing is the safety of those hostages and I wouldn’t want to do anything that may impact on the safety of those hostages.” |
| In the past two hours, Burn said police have made contact with the perpetrator, whose motive is still unknown. | In the past two hours, Burn said police have made contact with the perpetrator, whose motive is still unknown. |
| “Police negotiators have had contact and they continue to have contact and we will work through this as we do with our negotiators,” she told the newspaper. “It might take a bit of time, but we want to resolve this peacefully and I assure you if it takes a bit of time we will take that time.” She added: “We have activated our investigators and our intelligence officers so we now have numerous police who are working on establishing who this person is and what those motives might be.” | “Police negotiators have had contact and they continue to have contact and we will work through this as we do with our negotiators,” she told the newspaper. “It might take a bit of time, but we want to resolve this peacefully and I assure you if it takes a bit of time we will take that time.” She added: “We have activated our investigators and our intelligence officers so we now have numerous police who are working on establishing who this person is and what those motives might be.” |
| Original story | Original story |
| New South Wales police said Monday an undisclosed number of people have been taken hostage at a cafe in Sydney. At least two have been seen through windows at Lindt Cafe with their hands raised, while a black flag with Arabic writing waved behind them, stating “There is no God but Allah” and “Mohammed is the messenger of God,” according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. | New South Wales police said Monday an undisclosed number of people have been taken hostage at a cafe in Sydney. At least two have been seen through windows at Lindt Cafe with their hands raised, while a black flag with Arabic writing waved behind them, stating “There is no God but Allah” and “Mohammed is the messenger of God,” according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| Although authorities would not disclose, or did not know, who took the hostages or how many there were, Australian TV reported that there were about 10 employees and 30 customers in the cafe. No injuries have been reported. | Although authorities would not disclose, or did not know, who took the hostages or how many there were, Australian TV reported that there were about 10 employees and 30 customers in the cafe. No injuries have been reported. |
| Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that although the suspect’s motivation is still unknown, “we have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours, there are people that would wish to do us harm.” | Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that although the suspect’s motivation is still unknown, “we have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours, there are people that would wish to do us harm.” |
| “We don’t know whether this is politically motivated, although obviously there are some indications that it could be,” told in the nation’s capital, Canberra. He added: “The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves. Australia is a peaceful, open and generous society. Nothing should ever change that and that’s why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual.” | “We don’t know whether this is politically motivated, although obviously there are some indications that it could be,” told in the nation’s capital, Canberra. He added: “The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves. Australia is a peaceful, open and generous society. Nothing should ever change that and that’s why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual.” |
| A police spokesman told The Washington Post the incident began Monday morning as people were arriving for work in Martin Place, a plaza in the Sydney’s financial and shopping district. Witnesses told BBC News they saw a man with a bag and gun walk into the chocolate shop and cafe. Streets surrounding the area were shut down. The Martin Place train station was also closed. Police said in a statement that officers were handling an “armed incident” and that officers were “attempting to make contact with those inside” the cafe. | A police spokesman told The Washington Post the incident began Monday morning as people were arriving for work in Martin Place, a plaza in the Sydney’s financial and shopping district. Witnesses told BBC News they saw a man with a bag and gun walk into the chocolate shop and cafe. Streets surrounding the area were shut down. The Martin Place train station was also closed. Police said in a statement that officers were handling an “armed incident” and that officers were “attempting to make contact with those inside” the cafe. |
| Soon after, local TV footage showed people inside with the black flag up to the window. | Soon after, local TV footage showed people inside with the black flag up to the window. |
| Those in the area were instructed to stay away. | Those in the area were instructed to stay away. |
| As a precaution, the Sydney Opera House, State Library and the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney were evacuated, according to news reports. Consulate staff members continue to work from a secure location, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. | As a precaution, the Sydney Opera House, State Library and the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney were evacuated, according to news reports. Consulate staff members continue to work from a secure location, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. |
| Late Monday afternoon, the Sydney Opera House announced it would cancel evening performances. | Late Monday afternoon, the Sydney Opera House announced it would cancel evening performances. |
| Police commissioner Andrew Scipione said there is no confirmation the incident is related to terrorism. | Police commissioner Andrew Scipione said there is no confirmation the incident is related to terrorism. |
| “We want the matter resolved peacefully and we will do all we need to do to ensure that,” he said. “We are very contained. We certainly have tight restrictions and tight controls around that location and we will work as long as we need to bring this to an outcome. The officers there are trained and professional. They know what they’re doing and they have trained for. This I am sure they will get through this and this will be an outcome that will be positive.” | “We want the matter resolved peacefully and we will do all we need to do to ensure that,” he said. “We are very contained. We certainly have tight restrictions and tight controls around that location and we will work as long as we need to bring this to an outcome. The officers there are trained and professional. They know what they’re doing and they have trained for. This I am sure they will get through this and this will be an outcome that will be positive.” |
| Abbott said the incident was still unfolding and urged caution. | Abbott said the incident was still unfolding and urged caution. |
| “This is a very disturbing incident. I can understand the concerns and anxieties of the Australia people at a time like this but our thoughts and prayers must above all go out to the individuals who are caught up in this,” he said. | “This is a very disturbing incident. I can understand the concerns and anxieties of the Australia people at a time like this but our thoughts and prayers must above all go out to the individuals who are caught up in this,” he said. |
| This story has been updated multiple times. | This story has been updated multiple times. |