Hostage taker Haron Monis and two hostages 'dead' as armed police end Sydney café siege

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Escape: some hostages run towards armed police (Picture: AP)

Three people are reported to have died in the armed siege at a Sydney café where staff and customers were held hostage.

The trio, believed to be the hostage taker and two of the hostages, died as armed police stormed the café, bringing to an end the 16 hour siege at the Lindt chocolate café in the heart of the city's business district, according to local media reports.

One of dead was said to be 49-year-old Muslim cleric Haron Monis, the alleged hostage taker.

Police said a 34-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were among those killed.

They were later named by local media agencies as Lindt manager Tori Johnson and lawyer Katrina Dawson.

Four other people were injured, including a police officer who was shot in the face.

Shots were reportedly fired and a bomb disposal robot was deployed at the site.

Sydney siege: Gunman Haron Monis (Picture: EPA)

Earlier five hostages managed to escape. This afternoon five more were seen fleeing in terror from a side entrance of the business.

After the police moved in, one weeping woman was helped out by the officers and at least two other people were wheeled out on stretchers. Some of the hostages were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, according to local reports.

At 3.45pm this afternoon, the New South Wales police force tweeted: "Sydney siege is over. More details to follow."

Saved: hostages run towards police (Picture: AP)

The 49-year-old, who lives in southwest Sydney but is originally from Iran, attracted attention by writing offensive letters to the families of Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

He was also banned in 2010 from writing similar "letters of condolence" to British soldiers killed in that conflict.

It is believed Monis is out on bail after he was arrested earlier this year over sexual assault allegations stemming from 2002.

At least ten of the 15 hostages have so far escaped safely

Pictures from local television channels showed people fleeing the café with their hands held in the air and running towards heavily-armed police.

Witnesses described hearing gunfire and explosions ringing out from the café.

Terror plot: Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said it was "very difficult to guard against" a similar incident to the Sydney cafe siege (Picture: Reuters)

One of those who escaped was named locally as barista Elly Chen, a student at New South Wales University, working part-time to fund her studies.

Her friend Bee Doyle told reporters: “I just saw the wonderful footage that Elly has escaped or has been released. Gosh what a relief.” Her sister Nicole Chen posted her relief on Facebook. “Yessss I finally see you. I’m so glad you’re safe!!!!’’

The city centre — including the nearby Sydney Opera House — was evacuated as police ordered office workers out of their buildings and tourists and Christmas shoppers were told to leave. Trains were ordered to pass through stations without stopping.

Western leaders including the US President and David Cameron were being kept briefed while Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott admitted that “there are people who want to harm us”.

Images of the Lindt café — shortly after the siege began at 9.40am Australian time — showed hostages with their hands raised at the window before two of them were ordered to hold up a black Islamic flag.

A wide exclusion zone was set up around Martin Place, a pedestrian mall where the café is located. It is within 100 yards of the US consulate, courts and the state premier’s office.

Police snipers and heavily armed members of the counter-terrorism squad surrounded the café while police negotiators were brought in to talk to the gunman.

Sydney siege - in pictures

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The gunman, said to be calling himself The Brother, had reportedly made contact through the hostages with two Australian television networks and one radio station to demand a telephone conversation with Mr Abbott and an IS-style flag.

Terror: Hostages at the window of the cafe in Sydney

Journalists from broadcaster Channel Seven, which has its Sydney newsroom in Martin Place, were reporting live on the crisis. Senior journalist Chris Reason said on Twitter that he and his colleagues could see across to the café and had counted 15 hostages — not the 50 that had been speculated. “From inside the Martin Place newsroom, we can see food is being delivered to the hostages. Staff bringing it out from the kitchen at the back,” he tweeted.

The journalist also described how the gunman was rotating the hostages, “forcing them to stand against windows, sometimes two hours at a time.”

At one stage he reported that the lights in the café had suddenly gone out. The mother of a hostage — who was being held inside the café — told how she received a chilling text message from him hours after the siege started today.

The mother, known as Mel, told 2GB radio that her son, an apprentice plumber sent a message saying: “Mum I’m in the Lindt café in Sydney.”

“My heart stopped, I sent back a text message: ‘What is going on? Are you okay.’”

The last contact she had with her son was a reply at around 3pm local time saying: “I’m okay mum, can’t talk”.

Another hostage managed to call her fiance and tell him she loved him before hanging up. A 25-year-old female fashion industry worker and two female baristas aged in their thirties were also said to be among the hostages. Indian technology firm Infosys have confirmed an Indian national was being held.

A gunman, described by one witness as “tall, Middle Eastern appearance, late forties,” was seen inside the café wearing a black bandana with Islamic writing on it and carrying a large rucksack, prompting fears that he may also be armed with a home-made bomb.

Officers said their priority was to end the siege peacefully, no matter how long it takes, with the safety of the hostages “paramount”. New South Wales Police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn said officers had made contact with the hostage-taker saying: “Our approach is to resolve this peacefully.”

Police played down reports that there were multiple bombs planted around the city after one of the hostages contacted a news group to say the gunman had “devices all over the city” and he wanted to “speak with the prime minister live on radio.”

Flags at government buildings will be flown at half mast in the wake of the tragedy, Australian prime minister Tony Abbott announced.

He said: "I have instructed that the Australian National Flag be flown at half-mast today at all Commonwealth government buildings as a mark of respect and mourning for the innocent victims involved in the Martin Place siege."

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