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Sydney cafe siege: Extraordinary pictures Dramatic photographs capture onlookers' horror as hostage situation unfolds Sydney cafe siege: Extraordinary images show hostages run for their lives as crisis unfolds
(about 2 hours later)
Extraordinary pictures of hostages fleeing for their lives and police swarming around a Sydney cafe at the centre of a hostage crisis have emerged.  Pictures of hostages fleeing for their lives and police swarming around a Sydney cafe at the centre of a hostage crisis have emerged. 
Photographs streaming live from the scene of the Sydney siege show authorities and residents reacting with horror to the unfolding drama in their midst. Around 15 people have been taken hostage by at least one gunman in the Lindt cafe on Martin Street, in the city’s Central Business District.
Armed Australian police officers can be seen surrounding Lindt cafe on Martin Street, in Sydney’s Central Business District. It is believed an armed gunman is holding around 15 hostages inside the shop. In dramatic scenes, five people - two women and tree women - were shown escaping the siege, which began at about 9.45am local time.
Press and locals have captured photographs of the five hostages, three men and two women, who have been freed so far running into the arms of waiting police officers. Two people inside the cafe were earlier seen holding up a flag with an Islamic declaration of faith that has often been used by extremists, raising fears that a terrorist incident was playing out in the heart of Australia's biggest city.
Grainy images rapidly circling the net appear to also show the armed assailant. Wearing a headband decorated with Arabic writing, he has claimed there are a further two bombs outside the shop as well as two explosive devices inside the building. Grainy stills taken from news footage appear to also show the armed assailant. Wearing a headband decorated with Arabic writing, he has claimed there are a further two bombs outside the shop as well as two explosive devices inside the building.
  The hostage-taker has released a set of demands to police, who have asked media not to report on them.
Earlier in the siege two female hostages held a flag – again decorated with Arabic writing – against the window, where it was captured by the waiting camera.
Experts continue to work on the writing on the flag, and the hostage taker's demands remain unclear.