Gunman holds hostages in Sydney cafe

A gunman is holding a number of hostages in a cafe in Sydney.

Police have surrounded the premises in Martin Place close to the city’s central business district.

It’s not known exactly how many people are being held at the moment.

The incident started early Monday morning when witnesses say they saw a man with a bag walk into the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe, Euronews reports.

The company said about 10 employees and around 30 customers were in the cafe at the time.

Nearby offices and other buildings were cleared by police as soon as the situation became apparent.

About six hours after the start of the siege three people were seen running from the premises with two more following around an hour later. It is not clear if they escaped or they were released at this stage.

At one point a black flag was held up to a window on which was written Arabic script.

Police are said to have identified the suspected gunman but asked media outlets not to publish his identity.

NSW deputy police commissioner, Catherine Burn said: “I won’t clarify any operation tactics at the moment. It is really important to remember that this is ongoing, that we still have people who are being held. We still have a person that we are dealing with. So as soon as we are able to provide that information.”

As the siege heads into the night, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione refused to comment on the light’s being turned off in the cafe, citing operational reasons. He did confirm that an exclusion zone would continue around Martin Place tomorrow. He also confirmed that the operation is centred on a single location, after Sydney Opera house was evacuated earlier on in the day. He also called for calm saying that there should not be reprisals.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who has warned of militant plans to attack Australian targets, convened a meeting of the cabinet’s national security committee for a briefing. In a statement earlier he said the incident was “politically motivated”.

Australia which is backing the United States and its action against Islamist militants in Syria and Iraq, is on high alert for attacks by radicalised Muslims or by home grown fighters returning from the conflict.

Mosques, synagogues and churches across Australia are inviting the public to gather tonight to pray for a peaceful resolution to the siege at Lindt Cafe in Sydney.

A hashtag has arisen showing support for Australian Muslims #illridewithyou has been mentioned more than 40,000 times in the past two hours. 702 ABC Sydney have received calls from Muslim listeners saying they were afraid to ride on public transport.