Sydney Siege : Terrorist Demands IS Flag Says 4 Bombs in City

The crisis began at the Lindt Chocolate Café in 53 Martin Place, Martin Place, Sydney (opposite the Seven Network's studios) at around 9:45 a.m. AEDT. Hostages were seen holding up the black flag of Islam with the Arabic shahādah "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God".

One of the hostages was reportedly being used as a human shield by the gunman.



Prior to the siege, the automatic sliding doors of the cafe were disabled.







It was initially estimated that there were 13 people inside. However, other sources initially gave estimates as high as 50, while New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said in an afternoon press conference that a police estimate of the number of hostages was less than 30.

According to Sydney 2GB radio announcer Ray Hadley, the gunman demanded to speak to the Prime Minister live on radio, although these reports are unconfirmed. There were also further alleged reports that the gunman stated that there were four "devices" located around Sydney. However, New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione stated that none of the alleged "devices" were found during the investigations.

Nine Network has reported that two hostages currently inside the building have made contact with their newsroom, but for security reasons, details of the hostages or what they have reported cannot be released.

Burn confirmed that around 3:37 p.m., two hostages emerged from the front entrance of the building, followed by a third hostage who ran out from a fire exit at the side of the building. Media outlets advised that the hostages were not released, but escaped, though details were not immediately available.



 It was later confirmed by police that all three hostages escaped.Subsequent to the debriefing of the escaped hostages, authorities advised that no more than 15 hostages remained under the control of the gunman. At approximately 4:58 p.m., two female hostages ran from another entrance of the building and were met by police.

It was later reported that the gunman demanded for a flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant to be delivered to him in exchange for some of the hostages, and that he speak with the Prime Minister in person. He allegedly claimed that he had placed two explosive devices inside the cafe and another two in the Sydney central business district.