Panic has gripped the city of Sydney in Australia after a gunman held several people hostage inside a cafe. No exact figure has been releases of the number of people being held but the police have confirmed that negotiations are in fact on-going and the gunman has been identified.
Meanwhile the Australian police have said they will maintain central Sydney in lockdown "for as long as it takes", The New South Wales police commissioner has said his "number-one priority" is to ensure that all the hostages are brought out unharmed. There is now an heavy security presence at the Martin Place area. The abductor had some crying women display a black Islamic flag at the window. It had the inscription "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger"
Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was "profoundly shocking" that people were being "held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation".
A few people have been cited running from the building but it is not clear at this point whether they were released or escaped. According to the police, "Those people are now being assessed to make sure their health is okay and then police will talk to them."
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