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| Over 12 Hours Into Hostage Crisis, |
| Sydney Siege: Over 12 Hours Into Hostage Crisis, Negotiations Continue
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| AUSTRALIA
, 15-December-2014
8:31:41 AM |
| The centre of Australia's biggest city, Sydney, was locked down on Monday after an armed man held around 30 people hostage inside a downtown cafe and forced them to display an Islamic flag, igniting fears of a jihad attack. The gunman, who reportedly demanded to speak to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and an Islamic State flag, has also allegedly warned that four bombs have been planted around the city
1Snipers and a SWAT team have taken up positions around the Lindt chocolate cafe in Martin place - a big shopping area in Sydney's financial district. Police helicopters are circling overhead. Negotiators are in contact with the gunman, who is said to be in his late 40s to 50s.
2An Infosys employee is among the people trapped in the cafe. The IT company said the employee's family had been informed and it was extending all support to them.(Read more...)
3Five hostages have been released or escaped since the siege began around 9.45 am local time (4.15 am IST). (Read more...)
4The other hostages are being made to hold up a flag displaying the Shahada - a profession of faith in Islam, which says There is no god but Allah and Mohammad is his messenger". The flag is popular among Sunni Islamist militant groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda.
5The Reserve Bank of Australia said its staff has been locked down inside the building. The nearby US consulate and the Sydney Opera House have been evacuated. The Indian consulate, about 400 m from the cafe, has closed down.
6Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who warned of militant plans to strike Australian targets, said there were indications that the hostage-taking was politically motivated. Australia is a staunch ally of the United States in its action against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
7Concerns about an attack by Islamists in Australia have been growing for more than a year. In September, a high alert was issued after a spokesman for the Islamic State urged supporters in Western nations,
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