Terrorists were today holding hostages in an armed siege in a cafe in Sydney where an ISIS flag was held up in the window.
It is unclear how many people are involved in the siege in a Lindt cafe in Martin Place but people could be seen with their hands pressed against the windows.
Martin Place has been shut down and scores of police are surrounding the building after the alarm was raised about 9.45am.
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Terrorists were today holding hostages in an armed siege in a cafe in Sydney where an ISIS flag was held up in the window
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Terrified customers and employees were among those standing with their hands against the window at the Lindt cafe in Sydney
The Seven Network newsroom, which is in a building opposite the cafe, has also been evacuated.
Mia Burns, a news producer for Seven, tweeted: 'Hostages against the glass of Lindt café. Some are shaking and sobbing.'
Other buildings in Martin Place, including the nearby Westpac building, have been cleared.
Hostages: People could be seen with their hands pressed against the window of the Lindt cafe in Sydney
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Hostages: People could be seen with their hands pressed against the window of the Lindt cafe in Sydney
Martin Place has been shut down and scores of police are surrounding the building after the alarm was raised about 9.45am
+7
Martin Place has been shut down and scores of police are surrounding the building after the alarm was raised about 9.45am
It is unclear how many people are involved in the siege in a Lindt cafe in Martin Place but people could be seen with their hands pressed against the windows
+7
It is unclear how many people are involved in the siege in a Lindt cafe in Martin Place but people could be seen with their hands pressed against the windows
It was alleged that Omarjan Azari, the 22-year-old Sydney man arrested on terrorism charges in September, was planning a public beheading in Martin Place.
The alleged terror plot, mentioned in a conversation between Australian terrorism recruiter in Syria, Mohammad Ali Barylei and Azari, involved selecting a member of the public at random, beheading them and then covering their body in a flag.
The whole incident was going to be filmed, and then used as propaganda for the ISIS cause.
Federal prosecutors said the alleged terror plot was ‘clearly designed to shock, horror and terrify the community’
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2873855/Gunman-takes-hostages-cafe-Sydney.html
