UPDATE: Police chief dodges question on whether dead hostages were shot by gunman or police.
#Sydney police won't say whether 2 hostages killed were caught in crossfire or shot by gunman according to @AP. #SydneySiege
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 15, 2014
UPDATE: Police say they stormed cafe after gunshots were fired inside.
. @nswpolice conference "As a result of gunfire inside cafe, police moved in" 2 of 17 hostages dead #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/EWwH0ZQGCL
— Natalee-Jewel Kirby (@NataleeJewel) December 15, 2014
UPDATE: No explosive devices found at the scene.
NSW Police Commissioner says cafe has been secured and they have not found any explosive devices there #sydneysiege
— Mercedes Stephenson (@CTVMercedes) December 15, 2014
UPDATE: Three confirmed dead in Police press release:
Police now confirm two hostages, as well as the hostage taker, killed in #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/OAmZsshqBx
— Richard Frediani (@FredianiITV) December 15, 2014
UPDATE: A third person reported dead from a heart-attack.
#BREAKING: Reports of a third death, with hostage possibly suffering heart attack in hospital #SydneySiege #9News
— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) December 15, 2014
The Iranian gunman who held dozens of hostages inside a Sydney cafe has been killed after police stormed the building at around 2am of Tuesday morning local time.
Special ops police reportedly fired automatic weapons and deployed stun grenades as they charged inside the Lindt cafe in Martin Place, a bustling business center and popular tourist destination of the city.
Two are said to have been killed in the raid, with three others seriously injured, according to initial reports.
RT @SkyNews: #sydneysiege: Watch the dramatic moment a group of hostages sprinted from the cafe. http://t.co/DcVjoYTE6t
— ReallyRick (@TheReallyRick) December 15, 2014
Australia channel 7 say at least seven stretchers left the #SydneyCafeSiege with people on- 2 others received heavy CPR. 1 woman bleeding
— Bill Neely (@BillNeelyNBC) December 15, 2014
Hostages were seen running for their lives during the raid, while others were brought out on stretchers shortly after. One hostage, clearly distressed and with blood flowing down her legs, was carried out by emergency responders.
Australian station Nine News reported that eleven hostages had been accounted for after the police raid.
Early reports indicated that the gunman, Man Haron Monis, had told hostages that he had a bomb and that he also had two accomplices who had planted bombs elsewhere in the city. There has so far been no further details regarding these claims, nor have there been any reports of any bombs being detonated.
NSW Government say exclusion zone will continue to operate around #MartinPl #SydneySiege #9News pic.twitter.com/hNVxbX0M5X
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) December 15, 2014
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