Advertisement

5 Hostages Make Harrowing Escape From Lindt Cafe Siege

A Lindt cafe employee makes a harrowing escape after being held hostage inside the cafe for eight hours. Photo: Getty

UPDATE: Five hostages have made harrowing escapes from the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, police confirm.

A New South Wales Police spokeswoman won’t reveal where the hostages who have fled the cafe are being taken, for fear of jeopardizing their safety.

At 4:53pm, it was confirmed that the first three hostages, including two customers and one worker, successfully escaped from the cafe.

sydney siege lindt cafe
sydney siege lindt cafe

Two hostages make a successful escape from the Sydney hostage situation.

Armed police shut down central Sydney after a suspected gunman took several people hostage in a cafe and placed an Islamic flag in the window, sparking concerns that a terrorist attack is under way.

At approximately 9.44am a middle-aged man carrying a blue sports bag reportedly walked inside the Lindt Chocolate Café where three hostages were forced to put their hands pressed up to the windows. It is not known how many of those were staff or customers. A black Islamic flag with Arabic writing could be seen inside.

Hostages inside the Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place were forced to put their hands pressed up to the window, holding up a black Islamic flag with Arabic writing. Photo: Channel7

Heavily armed police continue to surround the building with several police wearing full body armour and with guns drawn and pointed. They locked down Martin Place office buildings including the SEVEN television newsroom, which is directly across the road from the cafe, the nation's Reserve Bank headquarters and NSW Ministerial offices. The Sydney Opera House was also evacuated.

At 11:29 AM, Prime Minister Tony Abbott released a statement: "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 the National Security Committee of Cabinet has also convened for briefings.

Police congregate outside Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place on December 15. Photo: Getty

Just before 1pm today PM Tony Abbott addressed the nation, urging people to "go about their business … This is a very disturbing incident. I can understand the concerns and anxieties of the Australian 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."

"I can think of almost nothing more distressing or terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation and our hearts go out to those people."

"This is an unfolding situation."

"We don't yet know the motivation of the perpetrator. We don't know whether this is politically motivated, although there are some indications that it could be."

Sydney's Lindt Cafe is being held under siege in what is believed to be a terror related event. Photo: Getty

"We have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours there are people who would wish to do us harm. That is why we have police and security organisations of the utmost professionalism that are ready and able to respond to a whole range of situations and contingencies including the situation we are now seeing in Sydney."

"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 is why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual."

NSW Premier Mike Baird also released a statement saying his thoughts and prayers were with members of the public.

PM Abbott urged anyone with information to contact the National Security hotline on 1800 1234 00.

Members of the public can assist authorities to keep Australia safe by reporting suspicious behaviour or activity to the National Security Hotline on 1800 1234 00. You can remain anonymous.