A MAJOR police operation is under way in downtown Sydney, where several people inside a chocolate shop and cafe could be seen through the windows with their hands held in the air as the Black Islamic Flag was raised aloft.
New South Wales state police would not say what was happening inside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe or whether hostages were being held. But television footage shot through the cafe’s windows showed several people with their arms in the air and hands pressed against the glass.
The footage showed two people inside the cafe holding up what appeared to be a black flag with white Arabic writing on it. It was not immediately clear what the flag said. The cafe is located in the heart of the city’s financial and shopping district. Streets in the area were closed and officials asked the public to stay away. Heavily armed officers were lined up outside the cafe.
01:24: Police have also said they are dealing with an "incident" at the Sydney Opera House - there are reports that the building has been evacuated. Local media is reporting that a suspicious package was found there.
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Sydney cafe siege
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30474089
Up to 12 hostages are being held by a gunman at a cafe in Sydney’s CBD as heavily armed New South Wales police move into position. Some inside the cafe have been forced to stand at the cafe’s windows holding up a flag bearing what appears to be the Islamic creed: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2014/dec/15/sydney-siege-reports-of-hostage-situation-inside-martin-place-cafe-live
Siege continues at Martin Place cafe
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/terror/sydney-siege-tony-abbott-says-perpetrators-motive-unknown/story-fnpdbcmu-1227156573126?nk=d8e7b4a1d9dd246d1ea9e5ca53a5bde0
Terror in Sydney as gunman takes at least 13 hostages at Lindt cafe, forces crying women to hold black Islamic flag against the window and 'demands to speak to Tony Abbott' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2873855/Gunman-takes-hostages-cafe-Sydney.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Live: Hostages held in siege at cafe in Sydney's Martin Place
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/hostages-sydney-cafe-martin-place-police-operation/5967232
THE PULSE: Islamic flag hung in siege at well-known Sydney cafe
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/the-pulse-islamic-flag-hung-in-siege-at-well-known-sydney-cafe/story-fnqcgfyj-1227153842306?nk=d5ec0894d82f6c4d5b74e91eb5fc9f71
