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![TV grab of hostages at the Sydney cafe on 15 December 2014 [Image: Australian Seven channel]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/15sydney-02-articleLarge.jpg)
TV grab of hostages at the Sydney cafe on 15 December 2014 [Image: Australian Seven channel]
“The incident in Sydney is disturbing. Such acts are inhuman & deeply unfortunate. I pray for everyone’s safety,” tweeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called for calm after what he described as a “deeply concerning incident” in which a gunman reportedly took several hostages in Sydney’s city center on Monday morning.
In a statement released on Monday, Abbott said, “New South Wales (NSW) Police and the Australian Federal Police are currently responding to a reported hostage-taking incident in Martin Place in Sydney”.
As of 12.00 p.m. local time on Monday, a person carrying a firearm remains inside a cafe with several hostages, who have been seen holding up a flag bearing Arabic writing. Australian news agencies were reporting hostage numbers from 12 to 40.
While heavily armed NSW Police move into position in surrounding areas, parts of Sydney have been forced into lockdown.
The NSW Police have also issued a statement, requesting for responsible reporting of the incident and confirming that contact with hostages is being sought.
“There is a police operation underway at Martin Place,” said the statement.
Police and emergency services have responded and a number of streets around the area have been closed. The Martin Place train station is also shut.
Local Australian television pictures seem to show that a number of hostages have been released from the café after a nearly six-hour siege.
TBP and Agencies
