Sydney Siege ends: police storm Martin Place cafe, hostages flee |  The AustralianSydney Siege ends: police storm Martin Place cafe, hostages flee |  The Australian



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						Martin Place siege: Sydney CBD cafe workers held up
				





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December 16, 2014
6:48AM






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Police confirm siege over, after shots fired
                1:22




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                    Police have stormed Sydney CBD cafe, shots have been fired after a number of hostages ran free.
                




Sky News
16 Dec 2014

News






 




 

Hostages run towards armed tactical response police as Sydney’s siege comes to an end. 
Source: AP
 
 



 

Police named the gunman as Haron Monis, a self-styled sheik. 
Source: News Limited
 
 



 

A staff member goes to the front door to turn off the lights in the Lindt cafe where hostages are being held at gunpoint in Martin Place, picture Craig Greenhill
Source: Supplied
 
 



 

The gunman is seen here apparently holding one of the hostages in the Lindt cafe.
Source: News Corp Australia
 
 

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Siege could be politically motivated, says PM
                3:49




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                    PM Tony Abbott says motivations are unknown, but there are indications that the Sydney siege could be politically motivated.
                




News Corp Australia
15 Dec 2014

News






 







Now Streaming



The latest live news coverage and commentary from Australia's No. 1 media company. Stream 1





 
 
 



				6.45am: Live coverage of the Sydney siege in Martin Place, where three people including the gunman have died, continues with our story: Three dead as police storm cafe.
				



6.25am: Haron Monis had achieved notoriety in 2013 by sending poison pen letters to the families of slain Australian soldiers.







Haron Monis was charged for sending hate letters to families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Appearing for sentencing at the Downing Centre today.
Source: News Limited





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Sydney siege ends
















Backlash feared as leaders offer help


ISLAMIC leaders have vowed to assist police as communities across Sydney reacted with shock to the siege yesterday.









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6.22am:Jared Owens reports: Tony Abbott will reconvene the National Security Committee of Cabinet this morning after receiving briefings from Mr Baird, Mr Scipione and the AFP.“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two deceased hostages, the wounded and the other hostages,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.“I commend the courage and professionalism of the NSW Police and other emergency services involved.“Commonwealth agencies will continue to provide every support to NSW authorities.”6.04am:Anthony Klan reports: NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said police entered the cafe following gunfire from within the building.“Gunshots were heard...then (police) moved to an emergency action plan,” Mr Scipione said this morning.“They believed that if at that time (police) didn’t move then there would be many more lives lost.”Mr Scipione said there had been 17 hostages in all, including the five who escaped yesterday.He said no explosive devises had been found at the site of the siege.He said he had spoken with the shot police officer in hospital this morning.“I have talked to that officer, he is well and greatfull to be alive.”NSW Premier Mike Baird called on the state to “come together like never before”.“I come before you with the heaviest of hearts,” he told reporters this morning.“Over night we lost some of our own in an event...none of us couldever have imagined.”6.03am:  More from Mr Baird and Mr Scipione’s joint press conference.Mr Baird said the government’s thoughts and prayers were with the innocent victims of an “horrendous vicious attack.” “I want to say to their family and friends that everyone in NSW stands beside you,” he said.“My thoughts also remain with those hostages who have been freed.“They will be provided every support they need in coming days and weeks and months.”GALLERY: In pictures- Siege in Sydney CBD5.58am: Here is more video of the siege end






Hostages escape Sydney siege
                1:07




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                    One by one, a number of hostages escape from the Lindt caf. Courtesy Channel Nine
                




news.com.au
16 Dec 2014

News







5.55am:Anthony Klan has been on the scene all night. This is his description of how the siege ended: At 2.10am three gunshots rang out in rapid succession - followed by a volley of gun fire - bringing to an end the 16 hour siege which had terrified the nation and captured the attention of the world.As building fire alarms rang out a team of about six heavily armed tactical response police officers began throwing what appeared to be stun hand-grenades into the building.Just minutes before a hostage had come running out from the building with his hands raised in the air, before laying down on the ground where he was approached by police.A female police officer came running down the street yelling for assembled media to move back.Police this morning confirmed three people had been killed, including gunman Haron Monis, 50, who was pronounced dead when he arrived at hospital.Those dead included a man, 34, and a 38 year-old woman.Four others were wounded including a policeman who suffered non-life threatening injuries and a woman with a shotgun wound to the shoulder.NSW Police said a “critical incident investigation” had been launched into the operation.Witness Ehab Ibrahim this morning told The Australian it appeared as though something had “gone wrong”.“It was like they were preparing and there was a big bang and then we saw rescuers running in and checking the faces of the police officers for injuries,” Mr Ibrahim said.“Then there was a woman was screaming and pulled out holding her feet.”Andre Balfe, an Irish tourist among those to watch the dramatic scenes unfold, described the events as “terrifying”.“Nothing had happened for hours and then of a sudden everything happened so quickly, we weren’t expecting it, it all happened so fast,” Mr Balfe said.“Initially (I felt) it was shock but now I’m happy it’s all over.”5.54am: Mr Sci[pione said that until the police’s “emergency action” they didn’t believe that anyone had been injured.“That changed,” he said.5.49am: Mr Scipione has confirmed that police have accounted for 17 hostages, including the five that escaped yesterday. He said a nyumber of gunshots were heard inside the cafe which caused police officers to move into the building.“We have a lone gunman who has been shot and killed.”The building has been secured and there are no explosive devices, he said.5.46: NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione is speaking. “We can only imagine the terror” the hostages have been through, he said. “We too share the grief of the families and the pain they went through not knowing about loved ones.”He has asked the community to come together. “This is an isolated incident. This should not destroy our way of life.”5.44am: NSW Premier Mike Baird is at a press conference now. “Unbeleivably we have lost some of our own in an attack we thought we would never ssee in our city,” he said.“Our first thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims of this horrendous, vicious attack.”He  said that the people of Sydney “will get through this.” And he repeated: “We will get through this.”5.35am: The police have now confirmed that two hostages were killed: a man aged 34 and a woman aged 38. Four others are injured including a woman in her 40s with a gunshot wound to the leg and another with a gunshot wound to her shoulder.A male police officer, 39, had a “gunshot graze” to the cheek and a woman in her 30s was being treated for back pain. Both were listed as stable5.32am; Emergency personnel wheel an injured hostage to an ambulance. At least one of the hospitalised hostages is suffering gunshot wounds.







Emergency personnel wheel an injured hostage to an ambulance during the cafe siege. Picture: AP Photo/Rob Griffith
Source: AP




5.30am: This is the moment the officers entered the building.







Armed tactical response officers enter the building after shots were fired during the cafe siege. Picture: AP Photo/Rob Griffith
Source: AP




5.25am: Sky News has reported that a police sniper shouted “Hostage down, window two” shortly before police stormed the building, suggesting that the gunman shot one of the hostages.5.23am: Gunman Haron. Monis’s former lawyer, Manny Conditsis, told the ABC that Monis was “damaged.”:“His ideology is just so strong and so powerful that it clouds his vision for common sense and objectiveness,” Mr. Conditsis said, calling his former client “a damaged-goods individual who has done something outrageous.”5.21am: One of the hostages was Elly Chen, a brilliant student and star athlete. Read Gina Rushton and Leo Shanahan’s report on her night of horror here.5.02am: Police have confirmed that the gunman was killed as the Sydney siege came to a head. There are reports that two other people were also killed but there has been no confirmation. Police will be holding a press conference at 6 am.Read Paul Maley and Cameron Stewart’s report on the siege here: Hostages’ night of horror2.49pm: Anthony Klan reports: It is understood about five hostages escaped after several policeflash bombs were thrown into the building. Several shots were followed by a stream of gun fire, suggesting a protracted battle between the gunman and police.Five stretchers were seen being removed from the building although two were believed to be empty.2.45am: POLICE have confirmed that the siege at Sydney’s Martin Place is over, after hostages fled the building and officers stormed the cafe, firing shots and throwing flash bombs.At least one woman was carried from the cafe, while another was taken away on a stretcher.The armed man has been named as 49-year-old self-styled sheik Haron Monis, who was accused of helping kill his ex-wife.






The moment police storm the Lindt cafe in Sydney
                2:17




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                    Police move in on the Lindt cafe in Martin place. Courtesy ABC News
                




news.com.au
16 Dec 2014

News







Sydney siege is over. More details to follow.— NSW Police (@nswpolice) December 15, 2014 
The confirmation came after an escalation in the crisis about 2am, when five more hostages ran from the cafe where a gunman had been holed up with as many as 20 others since around 10am on Monday.Initial television footage showed one man running out with his arms raised to police, who patted him down and escorted him to safety.Minutes later, two more men and two women raced outside and were directed away by police.Their escape was followed by what sounded like rapid gunfire as heavily-armed officers stormed the cafe.A second volley of shots erupted before the cafe filled with police and paramedics.A woman, thought to be middle-aged, was among at least four people carried from the scene on stretchers.







Police have named the gunman at the Sydney siege as Haron Monis.
Source: News Limited




Witness Ehab Ibrahim said it appeared something had “gone wrong”.“It was like they were preparing and there was a big bang and then we saw rescuers running in and checking the faces of the police officers for injuries,” Mr Ibrahim said.“Then there was a woman was screaming and pulled out holding her feet.”Five minutes later another police flash bomb was set off “and then it all started again”.Three shots were fired, followed by a barrage of rapid gunfire. Shortly afterwards paramedics rushed into the building, with at least three people carried out on stretchers.2.15am: A GROUP of hostages have run from the Lindt cafe, in Sydney’s Martin Place, where a gunman had been holding hostages in a siege that started just before 10am. Police have stormed the building, firing shots and throwing flash bombs into the building.Television footage initially showed a man running from the eatery with his arms raised, shortly after 2am, before being patted down by police and escorted to safety.Minutes later, two more men and two women raced outside and were directed away by police.Their escape was followed by 10 seconds of rapid gunfire as heavily-armed police stormed the cafe in numbers, managing to release others.A woman, apparently middle-aged, was carried from the scene injured.A second volley of shots erupted before the cafe filled with police and paramedics.A number of stretchers were wheeled into the building, however, it was unclear how many people may have been injured.Hostages' night of terror







An injured hostage is carried to an ambulance after shots were fired during a cafe siege at Sydney’s Martin Place.
Source: AP




11.25pm: Anthony Klan reports: POLICE have approached and questioned three Muslim men who have attended the site of Sydney’s Martin Place hostage situation this evening to pray.Samer Alaoui told The Australian he and his two friends had come to the CBD to pay their respects to the hostages and to pray for them to be “freed and safe”. Mr Alaoui called for the hostages to “remain calm” as “God’s looking out”. “The positives, they always overcome the negatives,” he said. Mr Alaoui said the men knew nothing of the alleged perpetrator butthey had come to pay their respects having seen events unfold in the media. “We saw this on the TV and thought we’d come down here tonight instead of going to the gym,” Mr Alaoui told The Australian. The men, all muscular, bearded and in their 30s, attracted the attention of police, who held a 15 minute conversation with them. Mr Alaoui said the police had spoken to them and asked them routine questions because the police were on “high alert”. “We’re all Australians, we’ve been born and raised in this country,” he said. “We just want for the hostages to be freed and safe.”SYDNEY SIEGE: What we know so far9.00pm: Two of the hostages who fled the Martin Place cafe during the Sydney siege have been named as lawyer Stefan Balafoutis and Lindt Cafe employee Elly Chen.Indian IT giant Infosys have also confirmed one of their employees is one of the hostages still inside the cafe.8.30pm: A press conference has been held to give updates on the Sydney siege at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione suggested that the siege could last for days, saying NSW police had many officers involved in the operation but, “We are certainly looking to increase those numbers in coming days if this drags on,” writes Mark Coulton.Mr Scippione urged the media and anyone else with contact to those inside the café to ask them to, “ensure the man inside speaks to police, speak to our trained negotiators.”He refused to say if the five people who got out of the café had escaped or were released. He said: “We are just pleased to see them out.”He added, “We have the very best negotiators in the world, on the job, right now,” and “we’re not in the business of speculating, we’re in the business of investigating.” He refused to give any details of the gunman but clarified that no one has been injured and they are only dealing with the one location at the Lindt Cafe. He says one hostage who fled went to hospital for a pre-existing condition.NSW Premier Mike Baird said there would continue to be an exclusion zone around Martin Place tomorrow, and asked workers in affected buildings to work from home.TIMELINE: How the Sydney siege unfolded8.21pm: A heartwarming hashtag is trending on Twitter, as events unfold in Sydney’s siege. Hundreds of commuters are volunteering to ride with Muslims as they travel to work tomorrow. #illridewithyou is attracting plenty of attention, Brighette Ryan reports.8.20pm: A muslim prayer session is held at Lakemba Mosque, Sydney, for the hostages.An Imam, a Rabbi and a priest have just held a joint prayer session for the hostages at Lakemba Mosque #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/XROqdTCPHt— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) December 15, 2014 
8.05pm: More than 200 onlookers continue to hover about Martin Place tonight, over ten hours after the Sydney siege at the Lindt store began, reports Anthony Klan.All day hundreds of onlookers have gathered at the intersection of Castlereigh Street and Martin Place, staring east up the hill to the Lindt store where the siege has been steadily unfolding.Throughout the afternoon casually dressed observers - it appears most office workers forced to exit their buildings had no desire to mill about - have hovered around the intersection. Most have spent much of the day taking photographs, videos - and “selfies”.Several groups of travellers were seen posing in front of the police tape, while more “selfie sticks” appeared than seemed warranted given the circumstances.Outside the Opera House this morning a couple of less than fortunate newlyweds were having professional romantic photographs taken while jostling with quizzical onlookers and a puzzled media.7.45pm: AS the Sydney siege at a Lindt cafe in Martin Place passes the ten-hour mark, a lot of speculation and misinformation continues to flood social media.Kate Sullivan has put together a summary of what we know, and what we don’t know, in regards to the ongoing hostage situation.7.33pm: NSW Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn has been speaking to the media in regards to the Sydney siege at the Lindt cafe in Martin Place, where a gunman is holding a number of people hostage.“Our approach is to resolve this peacefully. It might take a bit of time but that is our approach,” Deputy Commissioner Burn said.“What we are seeing now is this unevolving as a negotiation that the NSW Police is undertaking with the person who is in the premises.There is speculation about what he might want, but we have to deal with him on the level of police negotiation. We cannot be engaged in any speculation.Deputy Commissioner Burn: “Our approach is to resolve the situation as peacefully as possible. The priority is the safety of all involved.”— NSW Police (@nswpolice) December 15, 2014 
7.20pm: A line-up of ambulances stretch along Macquarie Street, outside the old Sydney Hospital, in case they are needed urgently at the Sydney siege site at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, reports Brad Norington.Police are maintaining an extended road block around the site from Hunter Street in the north, through Martin Place to the Supreme Court building near Hyde Park.6.50pm: Hostages inside the Lindt cafe at the centre of the Sydney siege in Martin Place have been in contact with media outlets in regards to possible demands.However, police have asked that they are not to be made public as they could jeopardise the safety of the hostages.Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn says a resolution to the siege may still take some time.Police are also monitoring social media after reports hostages are tweeting from inside.6.30pm: 7News reporter Chris Reason has tweeted that he has been allowed back into the Martin Place newsroom, which overlooks the Lindt cafe where the Sydney siege is taking place.Reason is reporting the gunman is rotating hostages and forcing them to stand against windows, sometimes two hours at a time. He is also reporting a mixture of men and women are being held hostage, but no children.6.20pm: Here is the full statement from Prime Minister Tony Abbott regarding the Sydney siege taking place at Martin Place, where a gunman is holding a number of people hostage.“I want to give you a brief update on the siege in Sydney. I have just chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee of the Cabinet, which was briefed by Premier Baird and Andrew Scipione, the New South Wales Police Commissioner, on the unfolding situation.This is a very disturbing incident. It is profoundly shocking that innocent people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation.







A hostage runs to armed tactical response police officers for safety. Picture: Rob Griffith
Source: AP




“Nevertheless, I can say that New South Wales Police and other agencies have responded to this incident with great professionalism.“Throughout the day, there has been nothing but complete and total cooperation between different Governments and different agencies.“You can be proud of the way your police and security bodies have responded to the events of this day.“I think I can also commend the people of Sydney for the calmness with which they have reacted to this disturbing incident.“We are a free, open and generous people and today we have responded to this in character.“Obviously, images have been beamed around our country and around the world.“I have received messages of support from a number of international leaders and I thank them for their encouragement on this difficult day.“Yes, it has been a difficult day. Yes, it is a day which has tested us, but, so far, like Australians in all sorts of situations, we have risen to the challenge.”I was briefed overnight on the siege in Sydney. It's deeply concerning and my thoughts are with all those caught up in it.— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) December 15, 2014 
6.11pm: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made another statement regarding the siege at a Sydney CBD cafe.“This is a very disturbing incident,” Mr Abbott said. “It is profoundly shocking that innocent people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation. I have received messages of support from world leaders and I thank them for their encouragement on a difficult day.”5.34pm: Anthony Klan reports: Police, state emergency services and welfare organisations are preparing for a long night ahead, setting up large tents at the northern end of Hyde Park in the city’s CBD, a handful of blocks from the Sydney siege at the Lindt store.Two large white tents have been erected and pallets of bottled water are being forklifted into the area, as scores of aid workers prepare to deal with the fallout from the ongoing saga.About a dozen workers from the NSW Department of Community Services disaster welfare division are congregating in the area, which will be the base point for those involved in today’s counter terrorism efforts.“We’re just here to help anyone who needs it,” said one NSW government disaster welfare worker.Much of the northern end of the park has been cordoned off, with State Emergency Services and NSW Fire Service vehicles supplying goods.One NSW disaster welfare representative said personnel were there “to help police with a situation” but declined to comment further.5.25pm: Brad Norington reports: It is believed at this stage that a lone gunman is holding a group of customers and staff hostage in the Sydney siege that started close to 10am.Police are understood to have been engaged in negotiations with the alleged hostage-taker. The city around the siege site has been closed off, although police security involving a wider area has eased.The release of the two women staff members minutes ago followed an earlier incident in which  three men were seen escaping by a side exit after being held since the siege began.Police have now pulled back a road block in Sydney’s Phillip Street to Hunter Street which has a clear view to the Lindt shop. The building above, which has been evacuated, normally houses some of Sydney’s top barristers at Frederick Jordan Chambers.5.18pm: This is video of the two female staff members fleeing to safety.






Sydney siege: Two female hostages escape Lindt cafe
                0:22




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                    Two people more people have run from the building, two female Lindt cafe employees which brings the total number of hostages who have now left the cafe to five. Courtesy: Channel 9
                




News Corp Australia
15 Dec 2014








5.11pm:SYDNEY SIEGE: WHAT WE KNOW-  Five people - three men and two women - have fled from the Sydney CBD café where hostages are being held by a gunman.- Police negotiators have had contact with the gunman but his motives remain unclear.- Earlier, a number of hostages were forced to hold an Islamic flag against the window.- A number of buildings around the CBD have been evacuated and thousands of workers were sent home early.- NSW Police have activated task force pioneer, an operation only put into action when there is a terror-related event.5.09pm: This dramatic picture from 9 News shows a female employee fleeing the cafe.







A Lindt Cafe hostage flees to safety.
Source: Supplied




5.02pm: Australia’s sharemarket and dollar trading both felt the effects of the siege in Sydney’s financial heart. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed down 33.5 points, or 0.64 per cent, while the broader All Ordinaries index lost 32.3 points, or 0.62 per cent.Airline stocks suffered after media speculation about Sydney airport closing to traffic, while bank stocks were hit as ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, and Westpac closed some branches in the city.Earlier, traders cited the siege as a factor in the continuing slide in the Australian dollar, which touched a new four-and-a-half year low.4.58pm: Channel 7 is reporting that two more hostages, this time women, have run out of the cafe, taking the total freed to five.4.53pm: It is still not known whether the three hostages were freed or escaped.@ArfaShahid @rqskye Three hostages have emerged from the cafe and are currently with police. We can't say anything more right now.— NSW Police (@nswpolice) December 15, 2014 
4.49pm: Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has reassured Queenslanders there is no safer place to live in the wake of the Sydney siege.Mr Newman said his thoughts and prayers were with the hostages being held at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place, as well as their families and friends.“Let us hope that this can be resolved peacefully without any violence, without any loss of life,” he told reporters in Brisbane.4.46pm:  The Grand Mufti of Australia has said he felt devastated by the siege. “The Grand Mufti and the Australian National Imam Council condemn this criminal act unequivocally and reiterate that such actions are denounced in part and in whole in Islam,” Professor Ibrahim Abu Mohamed said in a statement.“We along (with) the wide Australian society await the results of the investigation about the identity of the perpetrators and their underlying motivations behind the criminal act.” Australian Federation of Islamic Councils past president, Rehin Ghauri, said he was gravely concerned for his “Australian brothers and sisters”.“Holding people hostage like this is totally, absolutely and honestly un-Islamic,” Mr Ghauri said..He hoped those behind the attack were “quickly apprehended and brought to justice”.4.40pm: Charles Sturt University’s counter-terrorism expert Associate Professor Nick O’Brien has warned that the siege could continue for some days.“Police will be there assessing how they can deal with the problem. The first step will be negotiation and then something harder and they’ll even be thinking of handing it over to the military,” he said.4.34pm: You can see Chris Kenny telling Sky News in this video how he witnessed the start of the siege






Sydney cafe siege, Chris Kenny witnessed woman call police
                1:05




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                    News Corp Australia columnist Chris Kenny tells a Sky News crew that he saw the beginning of the Lindt cafe siege drama unfold in Sydney's Martin Place. Courtesy Seven Network/ Sky News
                




News Corp Australia
15 Dec 2014








4.31pm: Lindt Chocolate Cafe Australia has put a message on its Facebook page saying: “We are deeply concerned over this serious incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the staff and customers involved and all their friends and families.“The matter is being dealt with by the authorities and we are waiting for any updates from them.”4.30pm: The gunman has been described as being in his forties, and wearing a black vest. Police have said there are fewer than 30 people in the cafe.4.28pm: NSW Police have activated task force pioneer, an operation only put into action when there is a terror-related event.Meanwhile, specialist negotiators are talking to the gunman.4.25pm: Armed police at the ready in Martin Place:







Armed police officers point as they stand at the ready close to the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. Picture: AP Photo/Rob Griffith
Source: AP




4.24pm: The Australian National Imams Council has issued statement condemning the siege: "such actions are denounced in part and in whole in Islam"— Natasha Robinson (@NC_Robinson) December 15, 2014 
4.20pm: The Opera House has just announced that it is going to cancel tonight’s performances.A spokesman said: “In light of the situation in the CBD today, we have decided to cancel tonight’s performances at the Opera House. This is to minimise pressure on transport networks and to provide as much notice as possible to staff and patrons.The cancelled performances are:· The Australian Ballet’s The Nutcracker in the Joan Sutherland Theatre;· The Sydney Theatre Company’s Switzerland in the Drama Theatre; and· Damon Albarn’s performance in the Concert Hall.Damon Albarn has agreed to schedule two performances tomorrow, one at 7pm and the other at 9:30pm.4.17pm: As it is confirmed that one Lindt employee and two customers have been freed, we return to that press conference with NSW deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn. Ms Burn said police did not yet know why the gunman was taking the action he has.“Those motivations are not known and it would not be good to speculate,” she said.“We know have numerous police working on who this person is and what those motivations might be.” The number of hostages in the Martin Place cafe is not clear, but Ms Burn said it was less than 30.4.14pm: TIMELINE: How the Sydney siege unfolded4.11pm: You can see our updated picture gallery of the Sydney siege here:GALLERY: In pictures- Siege in Sydney CBD4.08pm:Jared Owens reports: Tony Abbott has convened another meeting of his National Security Committee of Cabinet, starting at 4pm, as the siege passes its seventh hour.4.07pm: NSW deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn has confirmed that three hostages escaped from the cafe.“We do not have any information that anyone is harmed at this stage,” Ms Burn said.She also said police could not confirm how many people remained inside the Lindt cafe in Martin Place.4.05pm: Anthony Klan reports: Police with sniffer dogs are now weaving their way through crowds of onlookers near the Lindt store siege, presumably searching for explosives.It comes as at least three hostages have left the store under the guard of heavily armed officers.4.04pm: you can see video of the first three hostages fleeing the Sydney siege here.






Three hostages escape Lindt cafe siege
                0:45




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                    Three hostages - two customers and one employee - run out of the Lindt cafe where there is currently a hostage situation. Courtesy: Seven Network
                




News Corp Australia
15 Dec 2014

News







4.01pm: A hostage is shown here running from the cafe to shelter behind police.







Ahostage flees the Martin Place cafe siege. Picture: Channel 7.
Source: Supplied




3.54pm: The police have just confirmed that three hostages, all male, have been able to escape from the cafe.3.37pm: Television pictures seem to show that a number of hostages have been released from the cafe. One of them was wearing an apron, suggesting that he was a member of staff.3.32pm: The siege has been going on for nearly six hours now.3.27pm: You can read Natasha Robinson's full report on the reactions of the Islamic community to the Sydney siege at this link:COMMUNITY: Islamic leaders offer assistance3.21pm: Police have closed off Martin Place between Macquarie and Elizabeth Streets with Martin Place train station shut down. Martin Place has several prominent buildings, including NSW Premier Mike Baird’s office, the Reserve Bank of Australia, Westpac Bank and the Commonwealth Bank headquarters as well as the US embassy and Network Seven. The Supreme Court, Sydney Hospital, NSW Library and NSW parliament are all nearby and have been shut down for the day.3.19pm: Macquarie Radio has reported the gunman has told negotiators he has “devices all over the city” and wants to “speak with the prime minister live on radio”.Meanwhile, workers who remain trapped in buildings inside the police cordon have been told to stay away from the windows.Justin Doyle, who works in legal offices inside the cordon, said colleagues were “very scared”.“They are desperate to get out but can’t,” he said from outside the cordon.3.16pm: Opposition leader Bill Shorten has just spoken on the siege, saying Australians are shocked by the siege, “but we won’t be shaken.”3.09pm:Mitchell Nadin reports: 2GB radio host Ray Hadley has said the gunman had made contact with him through a hostage, trying to get his message out on air. But Mr Hadley said he refused to enter into negotiations or broadcast any demands from the man, publicly urging him to talk to police instead.“The media can’t play a role in negotiating with people purporting to be from Islamic State holding hostages at a café in Sydney,” Mr Hadley said. “It is the job of authorities to solve this problem … who have the expertise to deal with these matters, not with radio broadcasters.”Mr Hadley said he was being pressured to say things “that we simply cannot say” because his “message had been hidden from the public”.“It has not been hidden from the public,” Mr Hadley said. “Judging by the email traffic everyone in the world knows what’s happening in Sydney at the moment. You’ve made your statement.”







Radio veteran Ray Hadley says the gunman attempted to make contact with him through a hostage. Picture: Toby Zerna
Source: News Corp Australia




3.08pm: Greg Brown reports: Police have removed a man from a crowed of onlookers in the Martin Place building. Tensions erupted as the man started spouting anti Islamic slogans.3.02pm: Natasha Robinson reports: NSW Police have this afternoon moved to brief Islamic community leaders on the hostage crisis. Various community leaders meeting with police at Campsie police station in southwest Sydney.Lebanese Muslim Association President Samier Dandan spoke to police during the meeting via conference call and said he was given no information beyond what has currently been released by NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.“We are on standby as the event unfolds, but we still don’t know all the facts,” Mr Dandan said. “We have offered our help and our assistance to the agencies. As a community we are very much concerned for the wellbeing of the hostages. Our hearts and minds at with the hostages at this point in time.”We will publish the full report soon.2.56pm: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR- There is at least one gunman, possibly two holding around a dozen people hostage.- A hostage has called a Sydney radio station but it is not known what they said.- NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says the police are treating the siege as a hostage situation but were “on a footing consistent with a terrorist act”.- The Opera House was evacuated after reports of a suspicious package.- President Obama has been briefed on the situation.2.52pm: You can read the full report on the joint press conference with NSW Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione at this link.SYDNEY SIEGE: Police ‘tested’ over hostage situation2.51pm:Darren Davidson writes: Car-sharing service Uber has defended itself against accusations of price gouging after raising prices in the Sydney siege because of the ongoing hostage situation.The US brand, which has earned a whopping valuation of $US18.2 billion based on word of mouth and cool credentials, is facing a rare social media backlash following complaints from customers.The app has quoted a fare of $145-$184 from a trip from Pitt Street to Sydney airport, roughly four times the normal fare.As it came under fire from social media users, Uber said the price hike was initiated to attract more drivers to the CBD.2.45pm:Jared Owens writes:  Treasurer Joe Hockey has cautioned Australians against being intimidated by the Sydney siege. Mr Hockey, who has urged Australians to stimulate the economy by spending for Christmas, said: “I don’t want to pass immediate judgment on what’s happening in Sydney but I just say, look, we cannot allow these events to shut down our country, to shut down who we are as an Australian people.“We will not be intimidated, no matter how horrific these events can be we cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated by people who try to bully us and threaten us.”Mr Hockey said the Reserve Bank, situated “right next-door” to the Lindt Café, is operating normally and he is in regular contact with governor Glenn Stevens.2.40pm: Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has said he is closely watching events in Sydney. He has offered the people of Sydney his best wished.2.36pm: An armed officer runs down the street near the siege.







An armed police officer runs along the street close to the Lindt Cafe. Picture: AP Photo/Rob Griffith
Source: AP




2.27pm: NSW Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione have haled a joint press conference. JustineFerrari reports: from the joint press conference of NSW Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione: Police are still unsure of the motivation behind the gunman holding a number of hostages. Mr Baird and Mr Scipione confirmed there was one armed offender holding “an undisclosed number of hostages” but he said police were yet to establish direct contact with the gunman.“My advice is we haven’t had contact with the armed offender,” he said. “We’re still not in a position to determine where the individual is from.”Mr Scipione said at this stage police were treated it as a hostage situation but were “on a footing consistent with a terrorist act”.Mr Baird said the people of Sydney were being tested but he had full confidence in the police, who had acted decisively.“We are being tested today in Sydney. The police are being tested; the public is being tested, but whatever the test, we will face it head on. We will remain a strong, democratic, civil society,” he said.Mr Scipione said there was no connection with the arrest early this morning of a man in Beecroft in Sydney’s northwest by the counterterrorism taskforce but police were checking a number of calls on a range of threats, including explosive devices in the city. All had so far proved false.Hundreds of police had been mobilised, including those specially trained for terrorist threats, tactical officers and negotiators to general duties officers and traffic police handling road closures.Mr Scipione urged people to stay calm with reports sprouting around the city of other areas being evacuated or locked down, saying the action was concentrated in a small area in the Martin Place area.“People see a police vehicle drive down their street and think they’re suburb or shire may be involved. That’s not the case, “ he said.2.15pm: Just to remind you of the exclusion zone around the siege area, take a look at our live map here.




Live map of the sieg zone


(Frame content direct link: http://media.theaustralian.com.au/multimedia/2014/12/martinplace/.)



2.12pm: IN-DEPTH: Full coverage of the Lindt Cafe siege2.11pm: The Commonwealth Bank has closed all its branches in the CBD.2.10pm: Construction workers wait at the Opera House







Construction workers wait at the Sydney Opera House as it has been evacuated. Picture: Braden Fastier
Source: News Corp Australia




2.03pm: This is a video of the Sydney Opera House evacuation.






Sydney Opera House evacuated following Martin Place Siege
                0:41




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                    The area surrounding the Sydney Opera House is evacuated following the Martin Place siege. Courtesy: Instagram/LukeHopewell
                




news.com.au
15 Dec 2014

News







2.02pm: Mr Scipione has said the police are still trying to determine what the Islamic flag stands for. “It’s a flag that we’ve had people looking at. We’re working with partner agencies to better determine what we’re dealing with,” he said.2.01pm: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has sent a message of support to Mr Abbott.In a statement, a spokeswoman for Mr Key said he has sent a text message to Mr Abbott offering his support. New Zealand’s national security system has been activated and individual agencies will be assessing what they need to know and do, the spokeswoman said.2.00pm: The police presence is “very heavy,” he said but if need be, it will be increased “to many, many more.”There is at least one gunman.1.59pm: Mr Scipione said police still did not know the gunman’s motivation and were working to determine where he was from.1.56pm: NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione is speaking now. He says police are doing all they can to resolve the situation peacefully. He says there are tight controls around the location.“The officers there are will trained. They know what they are doing,” he said.1.53pm: Barack Obama has been briefed about the siege, White House officials say. Lisa Monaco, the president’s top counterterrorism adviser, had spoken to Obama about events in the Australian city, a White House official said1.51pm: There is a lot of confusion over how many people are held in the cafe with the gunman. Chris Kenny, who left the cafe moments before the siege began, says that there were about 12 customers there when he was inside, and three or four staff.IN PICTURES: Siege in Sydney CBD1.49pm: Queensland’s police commissioner says he has information an improvised explosive device is involved in the siege.Ian Stewart has told the Queensland government that information was “firming up” that an IED is involved.1.41pm: Anthony Klan reports: A sister store of the Lindt shop under siege, Lindt on nearby George Street in the Suncorp building, had also closed its doors.A shop worker said the store had closed its doors because of the wider lockdown, but she and other staff remained in the dark about the situation unfolding in the Martin Place store.“We don’t know anything, if you have any news for us about our friends that would be great,” she said.1.38pm: NSW Police Commisisioner Andrew Scipione has confirmed that the person who rang Ray Hadley was a hostage.To clarify, Ray Hadley was contacted by the hostage, the call was taken off air and then confirmed by the Police Commissioner.— 2GB 873 (@2GB873) December 15, 2014 
1.34pm: 2GB’sRay Hadley is saying that someone claiming to be one of the hostages has rung him, with the gunman giving instructions. hadley has gone off air to talk to the apparent hostage.1.33pm: It seems that there are more people in the cafe than was first reported. Lindt Australia CEO Steve Loane now says there are up to 40 to 50 customers and employees inside the cafe.1.31pm:  you can read our coverage of Tony Abbott’s press conference at this link.TONY ABBOTT: Perpetrator’s motive unknown1.28pm: We’ve removed the live stream of Mr Abbott’s press conference but you can watch the video here.






Siege could be politically motivated, says PM
                3:49




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                    PM Tony Abbott says motivations are unknown, but there are indications that the Sydney siege could be politically motivated.
                




News Corp Australia
15 Dec 2014

News







1.23pm: ThisCCTV image appears to show the gunman holding a hostage.







This CCTV image appears to show the gunman holding one of his hostages.
Source: News Corp Australia




1.14pm: This is the scene in Hyde Park this morning, to where evacuees from Martin Place have flocked.







Evacuees in Hyde Park due to the Martin Place siege. Picture: AAP Image/Julia Carlisle.
Source: Supplied




1.11pm: The Prime Minister has just confirmed that MYEFO will go ahead as planned. Joe Hockey will be releasing the Midyear Economic and Fiscal Outlook at 1.30pm1.09pm: People being evacuated from buildings near Martin Place.







People being evacuated from a building in Sydney's CBD near the siege under way in Martin Place  Picure: AAP Image/Joel Carrett)
Source: Supplied




1.03pm: Jared Owens reports from Tony Abbott’s press conference: Tony Abbott has emerged from a meeting of cabinet’s national security committee, saying authorities “don’t yet know the motivation of the perpetrator”.“We have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours, there are people who would wish to do us harm, that’s 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 this situation that we are now seeing in Sydney,” the Prime Minister told reporters in Canberra.We will publish the full report on his press conference soon.







PM Tony Abbott holding a press conference in the Prime Minister's Courtyard at Parliament House in Canberra.
Source: News Corp Australia




1.01pm: Back to the Opera House: Michael Boland writes: With Sydney Opera House staff not answering phones there is a question mark over Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s planned performance there tonight.The sold-out performance, the first of two concerts, is scheduled to begin at 8pm.The Australian Ballet could not say if its performance of The Nutcracker, scheduled for 6.30, would proceed but a member of the Opera and Ballet Orchestra said they were planning to perform until such time as they were informed otherwise. Dancers are required to be at the theatre from 3pm today for their regular call time three and a half hours before the curtain.The actors and crew for the Sydney Theatre Company’s popular drama Switzerland are due to arrive at the Opera House about an hour before the scheduled start time of 6.30.12.59pm: Mr Abbott said: “I can think of almost nothing more terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation.” However he has urged Australians to go about business as usual.12.57pm: Lebanese Muslim Association President Samier Dandan says Australian Muslim leaders are meeting online now to see if the community can help.“If there’s something that the Australian Muslim community can do to assist, we are there,” he told ABC.12.56pm: Mr Abbott said he wasn't sure if the siege was politically motivated.12.53pm: The Prime Minister is holding a press conference now. The live feed is embedded (scroll down to 12.37pm)Mr Abbott has said the National Security Committee of the cabinet has been briefed on the situation.12.52pm: 






Sydney siege: Heavily armed police run near Martin Place
                0:10




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                    Footage has emerged of heavily armed police running near Martin Place in Sydney's CBD.
                




News Corp Australia
15 Dec 2014

News/NSW







12.47pm: Here is a live map of the exclusion zone around the Lindt cafe siege.




Live map of siege zone


(Frame content direct link: http://media.theaustralian.com.au/multimedia/2014/12/martinplace/.)



12.45pm: Anthony Klan reports:  Tactical unit police officers appear to be crouching behind shields they have placed along the windows of one side of the cafe undersiege.12.44pm: Rick Morton reports: RBA employee Sai arrived for work as the hostage drama began to unfold.“I don’t think even the police knew the intensity of it when it firststarted,” he said. “I saw people walked slowly, almost like they were pushed, to thewindows with their hands in the air.”12.43pm: This is the moment police took down a suspect in Martin Place in an unrelated incident.







Police take down a suspect in Martin place 11.35am
Source: News Corp Australia




12.39pm: Chris Kenny, who had just left the cafe when the siege began, describes what happened here.12.37pm: This is the live feed of Tony Abbott’s press conference. It was due to take place at 12.30 but has been slightly delayed.12.36pm: Greg Brown writes: Another group of workers are evacuated from a nearby building onto Castlereagh Street. Most evacuated workers look to be on the phone to loved ones.12.35pm: Bruno, an employee at the Lindt cafe, arrived for work about 9.45am and told ABC 24: “I walked up to the door, everyone was sitting down, and the doors were locked, which was pretty weird because they’re never locked. One guy was walking around with a hat and a beard, just walking around.Then I saw the manager and he was talking to another guy, and told me it was an armed robbery, then the police showed up and cordoned off the whole area. Then everyone inside had their arms against the window, hands up.”12.33pm: Steve Creedy writes: Virgin Australia and Qantas said flights had not been affected by the crisis. Neither fly over the CBD but Qantas said it was giving the area a slightly wider berth to allow police helicopters room to operate.12.31pm: Andrew White reports; Macquarie Bank has just released a statement about its headquarters on Martin Place“Given uncertainty around the situation in Martin Place Macquaire Group is relocating certain staff from its 50 Martin Place building to other Macquarie premises in Sydney“Other staff in the building will proceed to work from home.’’Macquarie extensively refurbished and moved into the former Commonwealth Bank building earlier this year. But it retains staff at the other end of Martin Place in the former GPO building that was its headquarters until earlier this year.12.30pm: Greg Brown reports: Police are evacuating some workers from the adjacent building at 39 Martin Place. They are being evacuated through Castlereagh Street.12.29pm: A man has been handcuffed 200m from the Martin Place cafe siege in central Sydney.A police officer has his foot on what appears to be a small black handgun. however police have tweeted saying the incident is not related to the siege.Photo circulating of arrest of man near #MartinPlace is NOT related to the police operation.— NSW Police (@nswpolice) December 15, 2014 
12.28pm: Anthony Klans reports from the Opera House: Security guards are allowing some employees and contractors back into the Opera House, while police tactical teams have dispersed, suggesting the area has been downgraded to lower risk.12.27pm: Bill Shorten has released the following statement: “Our thoughts and prayers today are with the innocent people involved in this morning’s incident in Martin Place, Sydney.Our thoughts are also with their families who are seeing this incredibly distressing situation unfold, along with the rest of Australia.I have full confidence in the skill and professionalism of our police and security agencies.I have spoken to Prime Minister Tony Abbott this morning and offered him the Opposition’s full support at this time.Australians can be assured that we are one when it comes to keeping Australians safe.”12.26pm:Jared Owens writes: Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann have postponed the release of the midyear budget update in response to the unfolding emergency in Sydney. Prime Minister Tony Abbott will instead address the media at 12.30pm12.23pm: If you are around Martin Place, feel free to send us your pictures and words at: NSW@theaustralian.com.au12.19pm: It looks as if reports of a suspicious package at the Opera House are unfounded.Opera House remains in lock down. Reports of "suspicious package" appear unfounded. pic.twitter.com/CFJTywDEP3— Anthony Klan (@Anthony_Klan) December 15, 2014 
12.18pm: Tony Abbott is to hold a press conference about the siege at 12.20pm. We will be streaming the press conference live.12.16pm: Reports that the Sydney Opera House has been evacuated have not been confirmed.finding it impossible to verify if @SydOperaHouse has been evacuated with numerous staff answering neither landlines nor mobile phones— Michaela Boland (@michaelamarea) December 15, 2014 
12.09pm: Tactical response officers arriving at the cafe.







Tactical response officers arrive on scene. Picture: Toby Zerna
Source: News Corp Australia




12.07pm: Helicopters over the Opera House.







Helicopters are flying over the Opera House
Source: Supplied




12.06pm: Greg Brown reports; More officers appear to be looking for entry points into the building. The team has between seven and nine officers. The police assault team is equipped with M4 rifles with night aiming devices. There are external assault officers keeping watch around the building.12.03pm: Police have just released a statement saying that specialist officers are attempting to make contact with the gunman inside the building.12.01pm: The lockdown area is spreading. Rick Morton reports: New lockdown area between Macquarie Street from Hunter Street to Hyde Park.12.00pm: A picture of the gunman inside Lindt cafe.







The gunman inside Lindt cafe. Channel 7.
Source: Channel 7




11.59am:Greg Brown reports: Police have sent out more messages to nearby building owners asking for increased security measures.This includes a lift lockdown unless unlocked by a staff pass.11.57am: The Harbour Bridge has apparently been closed now.Sydney Harbour Bridge is closed in both directions due to precautions— 2DayFM 104.1 (@2DayFM) December 15, 2014 
11.54am: Greg Brown reports: The Tactical Assault Team  will attempt whatever is necessary to get hostages out of the 53 Martin Place building safely, according to a security source.11.53am:Leo Shanahan reports: The NSW Supreme Court building has been shut down at Queens Square around the corner from the Lindt cafe. Mark Coultan at NSW Parliament, just across the road from the cafe, saying police likely to shut Macquarie Street soon.11.50am: This map shows the exclusion zone.







The exclusion zone around the Martin Place siege
Source: Supplied




11.49: Greg Brown, who is at the scene, reports: A police Tactical Assault Team has entered the building with gas marks MP5 shot guns.They have method of entry tools.11.47am: Police have surrounded the cafe.







Image of the scene of a siege at the Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place.
Source: Supplied












A police officer near the cafe. Picture: Richard Dobson
Source: Supplied




11.45am: A number of other buildings in Sydney are in lockdown, including buildings in Kent St, which is now deserted.11.43am: A man claiming to be the hostage taker has called a Sydney radio station claiming that there are other devices planted around the Sydney.11.42am: The NSW Premier has also issued a statement. Jared Owens writes:Premier Mike Baird has issued a statement: “All my thoughts and prayers are with those members of the public affected by the situation in Martin Place and the NSW Police who are trained to deal with these events.“I have spoken to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and have full confidence the NSW Police are working effectively to resolve the situation.“I will provide further information as appropriate.”11.37am: There are reports that the gunman wants to speak to Tony Abbott. Mr Abbott is expected to address the nation after he has been fully briefed on the siege.11.33am: Tony Abbott has just commented on the situation. Jared Owens writes: The Prime Minister has issued a statement: “New South Wales Police and the Australian Federal Police are currently responding to a reported hostage-taking incident in Martin Place in Sydney.“I have spoken with NSW Premier Mike Baird and offered him all possible Commonwealth support and assistance.“The National Security Committee of Cabinet has also convened for briefings on the situation.“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.“We will provide regular updates as further information becomes available.”Prime Minister Tony Abbott's statement on the #SydneySiege. Updates: http://t.co/EgWHAnjO35 pic.twitter.com/AGhyN5Qkei— The Australian (@australian) December 15, 2014 
11.30am: A gallery of images from the siege so farGALLERY: Hostages held in Martin Place siege11.28am:Michaela Boland writes: Lindt Australia chief executive Steve Loam was behind the police cordon in Macquarie Street, having received a call from his retail director at 9.50.“We immediately came down here but I haven’t been able to get any closer than this,” he said.“Employee-wise there’s maybe 10 to 12,” he added.He said there’s no suggestion the siege was targeted against his company.“I’m scared for them and hoping they’re going to be OK,” he said. “Our retail director is with police giving information on what people are inside.”11.26am:Steve Creedy writes: A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman confirmed that there was no need to declare restricted or closed airspace over Sydney. The spokesman said airspace over the CBD was fully controlled to the ground.11.21am:Andrew White writes: Martin Place has become more of a shopping strip in recent years with high end retails from Armani and Paspaly moving into ornate sandstone and granite former bank buildings. But it also hosts the Reserve Bank of Australia at the top of Martin Place and the new global headquarters of Macquarie Bank in a former Commonwealth Bank building directly the lindt cafeThe MLC building hosts the US Consulate, offices of former prime minister John Howard, and barristers office including Blackstone Chambers and is being evacuated.A spokesman for the RBA declined to comment on security matters.Macquarie Bank staff received text messages shortly after 10am advising them not to come could not be reached for comment.Staff of BT Financial Group at 60 Martin Place have been advised not to evacuate and stay away from the window11.18 am:Paul Maley reports that there are eight hostages in the cafe, being held hostage by one man.11.17am:Anthony Klan reports from the Opera House: The Sydney Opera House was in lockdown following reports a suspicious package had been found on the premises. According to reports a spokeswoman denied a package had been found but declined to commentfurther. The Opera house had been shut off with barricades and a police helicopter has been closely circling the iconic structure and monitoring bystanders. About 200 people, most appearing to be tourists have gathered on the western side of the opera house. Security guardshave been overheard telling tourists the situation is a “training event”. Riot police have just arrived at the main steps of the Opera House and are circling the building.11.13am: An exclusion zone has been placed around the Sydney Opera House after a suspicious package was found there.11.12am: Seven is reporting that 13 people are inside the cafe, being held hostage by two men.11.11am: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:-  An unconfirmed number of hostages are being held inside the Lindt Chocolat Café in Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD.-  Hostages have been forced to hold an Islamic flag with white writing on it against the window of the cafe.- Workers in nearby buildings, including the Seven Network and the NSW government building, have been ordered to evacuate the area.- Police have cordoned off the area to about 150m.11.10am: Airservices Australia has just said that airspace had not been closed over Sydney..11.03am: Aaron Zelin, an Islamic expert in Washington, has tweeted clarification about the flag in the Lindt window.This is flag currently held in Sydney window, a garden-variety Islamist flag. Therefore, doesn’t tell us anything yet pic.twitter.com/DgC6wIsE47— Aaron Y. Zelin (@azelin) December 14, 2014 
This is The Islamic State flag, not the one in the window in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/PV3UNuGCms— Aaron Y. Zelin (@azelin) December 14, 2014 
11.00am: There is speculation that the operation around Martin Place may be a terror-related. Earlier today, two people were arrested on suspected terror offences in north west Sydney.10.58am: Steve Creedy writes: The Australian has been told that airspace above Sydney CBD has been closed so that police helicopters can operate. There may be disruption to aircraft operating into and out of Sydney Airport.10.57am: Chris Kenny said he understood the automatic glass sliding doors had been disabled.“I did speak to a couple of people who saw a bit more of this unfold than I did,” he said.“One woman said she tried to go into the shop just after I came out with my takeaway coffee but the doors wouldn’t open.“So obviously whoever is doing this has disabled the automatic glass sliding doors to stop anyone else going in and she said immediately she could see there was a weapon.“She mentioned it being taken out of a blue bag and people were straight away asked to put up their hands.”NSW Premier Mike Baird’s office has been locked down.10.51am:Mark Schliebs clarifies the identity of the flag. He writes: The flag at Martin Place appears to a generic “Shahada” flag - featuring the expression of the Islamic faith - and not the one commonly used by Islamic State.The use Shahada flag, and not one of a specific organisation, means the gunmen could be sympathetic to any group or are simply acting as individuals.10.50am: Channel 7 is reporting that the man may also be carrying explosives.10.47am: Good point made by The Australian’s Mark Coultan..Lindt cafe is opposite not just Channel 7 city studios but NSW government building.— Mark Coultan (@mcoultan) December 14, 2014 
10.41am: A hostage has been forced to hold the Islamic flag against the window. Meanwhile public transport has been disrupted with Martin Place station closed.10.38am: The Australian’s Chris Kenny had only just exited the cafe when the siege began.Police guns drawn. Crowds pushed further back. All unfolding directly across from 7 newsroom. Frightening. Up to dozen people inside.— Chris Kenny (@chriskkenny) December 14, 2014 
10.31am: A woman who was about to enter the cafe said she had seen a man with a shotgun and immediately called the police.10.30am: There were around 20 customers inside the cafe when the siege began.10.28am: A black Islamic flag has been raised in the window but there is no confirmation that it is an Islamic State flag.







A black flag with Islamic writing has been placed in the window. Picture: Channel 7
Source: Channel 7




10.24am: Workers in nearby Martin Place buildings, including the Seven Network, have been ordered to evacuate the area.NSW government offices, including Premier Mike Baird’s, are in the vicinity of the cafe.A SIEGE is taking place at a cafe in Sydney’s central business district.Police are advising people to steer clear of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place.Customers and a worker’s face are pressed up against a shop window inside the cafe.Martin Place has been shut down and scores of police are surrounding the building after the alarm was raised about 9.45am.Hostages holding up an Islamic flag during the Martin Place siege. Police have evacuated the area. pic.twitter.com/6hYtQH1oml— The Australian (@australian) December 14, 2014 
Police clear Martin Place between Elizabeth and Macquarie. Customers still hands up against window - police in vests swarm - more on way.— Chris Kenny (@chriskkenny) December 14, 2014 







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				CAMPBELL Newman has launched legal action against broadcaster Alan Jones over comments on approval of a mine expansion.
	 






1 video
					



						 					Newman and Palaszczuk to debate
						 		
1:31






 





Police chief denies surveillance claims






 
Dan Box 
 
				THE acting NSW Police Commissioner has denied a range of allegations linking her to a surveillance scandal within the police force.
	 







 





Death of Saudi King lifts oil prices






 
MICHAEL RODDAN  
 
				OIL futures rose as much as 3pc following news that Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud had died and would be succeeded by Prince Salman.
	 






1 video
					



						 					Why is the oil price so low
						 		
2:44






 





Abbott asks for mercy over Bali pair






 
ROSIE LEWIS 
 
				TONY Abbott has asked Indonesia to reconsider its decision to execute Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
	 






1 video
					



						 					Chan, Sukumaran in line for firing squad
						 		
2:32






 





Model for uni funding untenable says Madigan






 
Rosie Lewis 
 
				KEY Senate crossbencher John Madigan says he is willing to continue negotiating the government’s higher education reforms.
	 







 





‘It has been very difficult’






 
 
 
				BILL Spedding says he has nothing to do with the disappearance of NSW toddler William Tyrell after police combed his properties.
	 







 





Triggs legally ‘flawed’ on release push






 
CHRIS MERRITT 
 
				A HUMAN rights law authority believes the Australian Human Rights Commission used a flawed approach in calling for an Indonesian killer to be ­released.
	 







 





Socialist? Not I, says new ALP boss






 
TROY BRAMSTON 
 
				NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley has declared himself to be a centrist Labor leader in the Wran-Hawke-Keating tradition.
	 












 





Chan a step closer to execution






 
PETER ALFORD and DEBORAH CASSRELS 
 
				PRESIDENT Joko Widodo has denied Andrew Chan’s appeal for clemency, clearing the way  for his execution alongside Myuran ­Sukumaran.
	 







 
 
 















Opinion








‘Abbott is in a self-perpetuating leadership black hole.’



 

 Dennis Shanahan





Memo to MPs: reform, not paralysis   





 
Dennis Shanahan Political Editor
 
				THE Productivity Commission wants to bust myths and pierce shibboleths about workplace relations without raising past political battles.
	 

 
 

 James Madden





Finally, promise of effective reform





 
JUDITH SLOAN, analysis 
 
				THE Productivity Commission is a reasonable distance down the road when it comes to thinking about the industrial relations topics to be investigated.
	 

 
 

 Rebecca Weisser





Corruption body springs leaks





 
Graham Richardson 
 
				THE Independent Commission Against Corruption in NSW is breaking the law by leaking to pet journalists.
	 

 
 

 Rebecca Weisser





We have to fix IR or get poorer





 
Innes Willox 
 
				IF businesses are to thrive, they need the support and flexibility of employees.
	 

 
 

 Rebecca Weisser





Beware of Greeks setting tests





 
Ashoka Mody 
 
				FOR about five years now, Greece has been giving the eurozone authorities a test in economics and politics.
	 

 
 
 

Prev
1 of 6
Next

 


















IN NEWS








Unions to fight review ‘every step’






 
Rosie Lewis 
 
				UNIONS have vowed they will take their concerns over the nation’s workplace relations system to the Queensland election.
	 

 





Newman sues Jones for defamation






 
Michael McKenna 
 
				CAMPBELL Newman has launched legal action against broadcaster Alan Jones over comments on approval of a mine expansion.
			
 

 





Police chief denies surveillance claims






 
Dan Box 
 
				THE acting NSW Police Commissioner has denied a range of allegations linking her to a surveillance scandal within the police force.
	 

 





Model for uni funding untenable says Madigan






 
Rosie Lewis 
 
				KEY Senate crossbencher John Madigan says he is willing to continue negotiating the government’s higher education reforms.
	 

 





Abbott asks for mercy over Bali pair






 
ROSIE LEWIS 
 
				TONY Abbott has asked Indonesia to reconsider its decision to execute Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
			
 

 
 
 









VIDEOS








Lawyer says US admits Hicks is innocent





			David Hicks could have his terrorism conviction overturned, after the US admitted he is innocent.
	
0:31
 





Infamous prison escapee released from jail





			Infamous jail escapee John Killick has enjoyed his first night of freedom after being released from a jail.
	
0:29
 





Newman and Palaszczuk to debate





			Queensland's political leaders will go head to head for the first time in a Sky News People's Forum.
	
1:31
 





Bali Nine execution date unknown





			Indonesia has not yet named an execution date and place for two Australians convicted of drug smuggling.
	
1:54
 
 
 


WORLD VIDEOS








Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies aged 90





			Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has died and his brother Salman has become the kingdom's new ruler.
	
1:43
 





Prince Andrew denies sex slave claims





			Britain's Prince Andrew has spoken out, denying underage sex claims levelled against him.
	
1:34
 





Yemeni president quits, throwing the nation deeper into chaos





			A government source says Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has resigned. Nathan Frandino reports.
	
0:42
 





Bus shelling kills thirteen in Ukraine





			Thirteen civilians have died after shells hit a bus in Ukraine's rebel-held city of Donetsk.
	
2:19
 
 
 



















Features








Battle for Bali mercy hits canvas






 
Deborah Cassrels 
 
				A PASSION for art has led Myuran Sukumaran to enlightenment, but his hopes of avoiding the firing squad in Bali have all but faded.
	 







 





Reclaiming an evil name






 
David Charter 
 
				THE grandson of a reviled Nazi tries to atone for his family’s past.
	 







 





Germ war breakthrough






 
JOHN ROSS 
 
				THE discovery of a new class of antibiotics has excited scientists and the world of medicine.
	 







 





Making Labor accountable






 
David Crowe 
 
				THE opposition should not expect to win without detailed
				policy.
	 







 





It’s game on for Oz tennis






 
COURTNEY WALSH 
 
				IS Australian tennis at last developing some depth or will the Open once again reveal a lack of talent coming through?
	 







 
 
 








features















WhatsApp now on a web browser - unless you have this kind of phone











Rosetta comet ‘could float on water’











Why the lost tribe has fled the Amazon











The president, the prosecutor, his death and Argentina’s dark secret







 
 
 






features












		  Sign up now to the Executive Living newsletter and enjoy the good life. Delivered every Friday.










Aldi’s low-cost concept offers healthy competition to the big boys













TOP STORIES





NEWS








Unions to fight review ‘every step’




				UNIONS have vowed they will take their concerns over the nation’s workplace relations system to the Queensland election.
	 

 



 Newman sues Jones for defamation  
 Police chief denies surveillance claims 

 
 


BUSINESS








Death of Saudi King lifts oil prices




				OIL futures rose as much as 3pc following news that Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud had died and would be succeeded by Prince Salman.
			
 

 



 Santos revenue tops $1bn for year 
 Aussie dollar dips below US80c  

 
 


ARTS








Passports with the stamp of stimulation




				AGWA has had a ‘reasonably weak collection’ of photographic art says its curator, until now.
	 

 



 Dedicated to painting her country 
 Yes, it’s Bjork’s breakup album 

 
 




OPINION








Memo to MPs: reform, not paralysis   




				THE Productivity Commission wants to bust myths and pierce shibboleths about workplace relations without raising past political battles.
	 

 



 Corruption body springs leaks 
 Finally, promise of effective reform 

 
 


SPORT








Sam Stosur knocked out of Open




				SAM Stosur’s exit from the Australian Open means that of the eight Australian women in main draw, none have made it to the third round.
			
 

 



 Is this the end for Hewitt?  
 World-class Cahill spurs Socceroos  

 
 


EXECUTIVE LIVING








All you can’t eat




				IF you have decided on a new year cleanse, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from.
	 

 



 Missionary ‘safest position’ for men 
 The big lap 

 
 




NATIONAL AFFAIRS








Time to bust workplace myths




				THE minimum wage and allowing penalty rates to be set at the enterprise level will be investigated by the Productivity Commission in a far-reaching review.
	 

 



 Socialist? Not I, says new ALP boss 
 Triggs legally ‘flawed’ on release push 

 
 


TECHNOLOGY








ASIC pushes for access to data




				ASIC has called on the government to expand the controversial data retention scheme to the corporate regulator.
	 

 



 Windows 10: how it works  
 Hutchison to buy UK’s O2 

 
 


TRAVEL








Written on the wind




				THE pleasures of small-ship sailing in Scotland.
	 

 



 To the end of the earth 
 Bridges not too far 

 
 





























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