There has been a lot of conflicting reports and speculation. I have crossed checked the following against official sources, and this what we definitively know so far. - Customers and staff at Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, the heart of Sydney CBD, were taken hostage at about 9.45am. There are varying reports on the number of hostages but at least four have been seen on camera. They were made to stand up against the windows with their hands raised. There is at least one gunman. - A black flag with white writing was put in the window of the cafe. It is not an Islamic State flag. The flag appears to bear the Shahada, an Islamic creed which reads: “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God.” It can be a benign symbol and appears across the Islamic world, including on the Saudi Arabian flag. But it has also been embraced by jihadi groups such as Jabhat Al-Nusra, an al-Qaida affiliate currently fighting in Syria. - The prime minister, Tony Abbott, confirmed the national security committee has convened for briefings. He has also said he is constant contact with NSW Premier Mike Baird. - Buildings in the area have been evacuated, as has the Sydney Opera House, though it has not been confirmed why the Opera House has been evacuated.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 02:12:25 +0000
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