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Monday 15 December 2014

Hostages run for their lives: Two women and three men break free from Sydney cafe where dozens are being held by a Muslim extremist armed with a gun, machete and suspected bomb

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Two female hostages have managed to break free from the Sydney cafe in Martin Place where an Islamic extremist is holding dozens of hostages - bringing the number of escapees to five. Earlier, three men scrambled a few metres from a fire escape toward heavily armed tactical police, who kept their weapons pointed toward the café as they directed the men to get behind them to safety. 


The men, one of whom wore a long black barista's apron (right) looked clearly terrified as they fled. At least one suspect (inset, left) carrying a shotgun, a machete and possibly an explosive device entered the Lindt cafe in Sydney's Martin Place about 9.45am on Monday. Staff and customers sobbed as they were forced to hold a black flag - believed to be that of an Islamic extremist group - up against the window. The text on the flag was partially translated as: 'There is no God but Allah.' TV reports showed a man wearing a black headband with white text on it moving inside the café. A Lindt staff member could be seen with her hands held against the window and her eyes closed. The bustling shopping district has been plunged into silence after police shut down the city block and surrounded the building. The terrifying scene comes after recent terror arrests unveiled a plot to target innocent victims in the heart of the Sydney city centre and one of the busiest thoroughfares in Australia.
A young female employee  came running out of the Lindt cafe shortly before 5pm and was sheltered by waiting police
A total of five hostages have now escaped Lindt cafe in Martin Place after a male employee and two male customers ran out a fire exit and hid behind heavily armed police officers shortly before 3.45pm on Monday.
It is believed they escaped from the cafe and were not released.  
Witnesses had early described how a man wearing a headband covered in Arabic walked into the cafe and produced a shotgun from a blue bag at around 9.45am.
Shortly afterwards hostages were seen with their hands pressed against the windows holding up the Shahada flag belonging to the extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra, which is fighting the Assad government in Syria. 
There are claims that the terrorist is also armed with a machete and may have explosives but this has not been confirmed by police. 
One of the hostage-takers has made contact with officers saying that he has 'devices all over the city' and 'wants to speak with the prime minister live on radio', according to Ray Hadley, from 2GB.
Lindt Australia CEO Steve Loane estimated there are up to 50 people being held inside, but NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said on Monday afternoon they believed there were less than 30 hostages in the cafe. 
Armed police have sealed off streets around the cafe and Martin Place station is shut. Planes have been diverted away from the city centre. 
The incident began just hours after a 25-year-old suspect was arrested in a terror raid in Sydney. 


Another distraught female worker ran hysterically from the shop before grabbing hold of heavily armed police visibly upset
A total of five hostages have now escaped Lindt cafe - it's believed they escaped and were not released
A total of five hostages have now escaped Lindt cafe - it's believed they escaped and were not released
Two terrified men were spotted fleeing the Lindt cafe in Martin Place shortly before 3.45pm
Two terrified men were spotted fleeing the Lindt cafe in Martin Place shortly before 3.45pm
Two men, believed to be customers, ran around a corner and hid behind heavily armed police after six hours inside the cafe
Two men, believed to be customers, ran around a corner and hid behind heavily armed police after six hours inside the cafe
Two men, believed to be customers, ran around a corner and hid behind heavily armed police after six hours inside the cafe
A male employee wearing an apron frantically ran out of a side fire exit and hid behind police
A male employee wearing an apron frantically ran out of a side fire exit and hid behind police
The three men are believed to have escaped from the cafe after six hours rather than released 
It is not known how many hostages are still inside the Lindt cafe
It is not known how many hostages are still inside the Lindt cafe
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said police negotiators had made contact with the hostage-taker and three people were now safely with police.
'They are now out of the building and are with police. First thing we’re doing is making sure they’re okay. We will work with these people to find out some more information. The information I have is that no one has been harmed of injured,' she said. 
Earlier, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said: 'We have moved to a footing that would be consistent with a terrorist event'.
Officers are still trying to work out the motivation for the situation, according to Mr Scipione.
Queensland's police commissioner Ian Stewart says he has information an improvised explosive device may be involved, but Mr Scipione was unable to confirm that. 
'This is a difficult day for everyone. I can confirm to you we have an armed offender holding an undisclosed number of hostages in the city,' Mr Scipione said.
'Police have been in attendance and have controlled the situation from very early this morning shortly after it was advised. We are at this stage continuing to secure and do all we can to ensure this goes to a peaceful outcome.' 


Via - Dailymail


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