Australia, ISIS, hostages

[Theredandthewhite]

What the bloody hell is going on? Poor people

Fingers crossed they all leave unharmed

Sorry, I meant the cafe. I have many friends in oz, sydney specifically and I am frantically trying to find news about what is going on. Horrific.

Muslims or not these people are common garden terrorists. Miles apart from any of the Muslims I know.

Watching it live here in Melbourne. Hope to God they do not behead anyone.

Sydney is GMT plus 11 hours (about 11:30 am there now), so this must have begun as people were on their way to work.

PM has made a statement expressing deep concern, and confirming all assistance to relevant police/security organisations. Further updates to follow when there is something to say.

They are saying 13 hostages. www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/hostages-sydney-cafe-martin-place-police-operation/5967232

How awful. I hope all the hostages make it out safely and that the perpetrators and everyone who helped them are brought to justice.

These people are really really sick and I really struggle to understand what is so attractive about hate and murder.

I don't mean this to sound at all flippant, but isn't the target a chocolate shop? I mean what possible objection could anyone have to a chocolate shop? FFS. If it wouldn't just add fuel to their fire I would have them all shot on the spot.

Sorry, café not a chocolate shop. Same sentiment applies though.

How terrifying for everyone in the cafe, I hope they will all get out safely

Lindt Café, Martin Place, Macquarie Street, Sydney Central Business District.

13 staff and customers taken hostage. One maybe two hostage takers have a machine gun, machete and possibly a bomb. Possibility that further suspicious packages are around Sydney as the hostage taker has phoned a popular Sydney radio station.

Office Blocks being evacuated. Centre of Sydney is on lock down.

Armed police SWAT teams are waiting for the instruction to storm the café.

Journalists are 150metres away as that is the area cordoned off.

I live in New Zealand and I'm watching SKY News, New Zealand.

I'm in Sydney on holiday. Walked past that cafe yesterday on my way to the aquarium! Terrifying... It's a handy location for maximum impact, high rise offices all around, HQ's of several big banks in the vicinity, tv news office across the road. We were supposed to go to bridge/opera house to take some touristy pics today and meet friends for lunch (we leave tomorrow) but went to the beach first. Will be leaving Sydney without any iconic snaps with Dh and DD in Sydney Harbour which I'm a bit sorry about, but it's not worth the risk.

Watching the updates with dread. Those poor people.

Hope you're somewhere safe, smaths. Glad you're ok atm.

The opera house has been evacuated as well a maths. :(

And the chocolate shop was probably chosen as it is across form a newsroom.

They have evacuated the newsroom for that very reason.

Sorry that was I response to the poster who said why a chocolate shop.

Police have asked journalists to be responsible with their reports i.e. do not panic the public at large as information is sketchy at present.

Twitter suggests harbour bridge also evacuated

praying for those poor poor people I'm the cafe.

wtf is going on in this world of ours

I feel like I'm constantly waiting for things like this to happen. It's not a healthy way to live, but it's always there, right at the back of my mind. When I first heard 7/7 emerging on the news (when I switched car radio on after school run), my first thought was 'oh, they've got us' - it was always going to happen.

Wishing a peaceful end to this, and that everyone gets out safely.

Security cordon now increased to 300m from café.

News bulletin states: police are dealing with an armed incident. One armed hostage taker with a machete, a gun and possibly explosives too.

Suspicious package located at Sydney Opera House.

It's a politically motivated incident. Not yet clear whether it's terrorism or linked to the Islamic State.

Abc news 24 have taken off geo lock so you can watch their coverage internationally.

My friend's husband works in Martin Place, she just texted me that she is 'fucking terrified'.

Why is there this evil in the world??

Oh no koala! Praying your friends husband, and indeed everyone there, is safe. I did just hear that they are possibly starting to evacuate workers in the nearby buildings, so hopefully your friends dh will be home safe soon.

Awful, just awful for all involved.

I sincerely hope this ends peacefully.

They're evacuating buildings, there's a list on the SMH which includes the opera house.

Dear god this is so awful.