Up to 20 people are currently believed to be held hostage at the Lindt Chocolate Café in Martin Place, in Sydney Austrailia’s business district.
As a gunman, or multiple gunmen, have taken over the cafe and have forced those in the cafe to hold up a banner, with what appears to be an Islamic message, in the window.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the situation was not being treated as a terror incident, but confirmed there was "an armed offender in the premises holding an undisclosed number of hostages".
-RW
UPDATE:
From Braindeathx
At least 2 gunmen, suspected more right now. (unconfirmed if they have guns, however) [00:00 GMT]
The gunmen forced 2 female hostages to press themselves against the glass window of the cafe while holding up a black Islamic flag that resembles the generic black standard used by extremist groups, including ISIS back in 2007. This is NOT the same flag as the ISIS flag. [00:02 GMT]
There are at least 13 hostages right now, possibly more. [00:04 GMT]
Airspace over Sydney reserved for military/police, other traffic diverted (confirmed) [00:09 GMT]
Reports of threats made against other places in Sydney according to ABC24 (CONFIRMED). [00:14GMT]
Reports that one of the gunmen is wearing a backpack and some sort of a vest. (unconfirmed) [00:24 GMT]
Suspicious package at Sydney opera house, building fully evacuated (unconfirmed). [00:25 GMT]
Gunmen have made demands on live radio to speak to the Australian Prime Minister. [00:30 GMT]
A middle-aged looking gunman has been witnessed through the window by ABC24 [00:39 GMT] (unconfirmed).
Possibly a second gunman witnessed through the window wearing a black headband with white writing in Arabic on it (unconfirmed) [00:42 GMT]
Australian PM's office releases message that the national security cabinet is holding an emergency meeting (hostage crisis confirmed), possibly Australian military response. [00:42 GMT]
Sydney harbor bridge closed down (confirmed by Channel 7 news) [00:51 GMT]
2 gunmen confirmed by unidentified Lindt chocolate cafe employee who managed to escape [00:54 GMT]
Hostages being held in 2 different groups according to unidentified Lindt chocolate cafe employee who managed to escape [00:55 GMT]
Channel7 news reporting that an individual walked into a Sydney hospital with a suspicious package, and then disappeared and is currently missing. [00:57 GMT]
CEO of Lindt Australia now saying that there are currently 40-50 hostages being held (unconfirmed) [00:58 GMT]
PM Tony Abbott holding press conference. [1:55 GMT]
UPDATE 2
Via NBC:
Police have confirmed 5 hostages have safely escaped from a gunman at a chocolate shop in Sydney, Australia.
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