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SYDNEY (AP) — Police in Australia say the hostage situation at a cafe in downtown Sydney is over.
After a flurry of loud bangs, five or six hostages were seen running from the building and a swarm of heavily armed police the swooped into the cafe early Tuesday, Sydney-time.
The gunman had been holding an unknown number of people hostage for more than 16 hours.
Police have not yet provided details about the fate of the gunman or any of those who were inside. One weeping woman was helped out by the officers and at least two other people were wheeled out on stretchers. A hospital official says one hostage is receiving treatment for a gunshot wound to the leg.
Local media have identified the gunman as an Iranian-born man (Man Haron Monis) who is facing charges including sexual assault and accessory to murder in separate cases.
Television images of through the cafe windows during the day Monday showed several people with their arms in the air and two people holding up a black flag with the Islamic declaration of faith written on it.
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172-c-21-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)-"done something outrageous"-Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports the hostage standoff in Sydney, Australia is over. (15 Dec 2014)
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171-v-34-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)--Police have put an end to the Sydney cafe hostage siege. Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports. (15 Dec 2014)
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170-r-37-(Sound of apparent gunfire and explosions, at scene of hostage standoff)--This is sound of apparent gunfire and explosions as Australian security personnel move against the hostage-taker in Sydney. (15 Dec 2014)
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APPHOTO XRG115: Hostages run to safety during a cafe siege in the central business district of Sydney , Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. A swarm of heavily armed police stormed a cafe in the heart of downtown Sydney early Tuesday, ending a siege where a gunman had been holding an unknown number of people hostage for more than 16 hours. A police spokesman confirmed "the operation is over," but would not release any further details about the fate of the gunman or his remaining captives. After a flurry of loud bangs, police swooped into the Lindt Chocolat Cafe shortly after five or six hostages were seen running from the building. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (16 Dec 2014)
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APPHOTO XRG103: An injured hostage is wheeled to an ambulance after shots were fired during a cafe siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. New South Wales state police would not say what was happening inside the cafe or whether hostages were being held. But television footage shot through the cafe's windows showed several people with their arms in the air.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (16 Dec 2014)
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APPHOTO XRG108: A injured hostage is carried to an ambulance after shots were fired during a cafe siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. New South Wales state police would not say what was happening inside the cafe or whether hostages were being held. But television footage shot through the cafe's windows showed several people with their arms in the air.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (16 Dec 2014)
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APPHOTO XRG101: Hostages run towards armed tactical response police as they run to freedom from a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. New South Wales state police would not say what was happening inside the cafe or whether hostages were being held. But television footage shot through the cafe's windows showed several people with their arms in the air.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (16 Dec 2014)
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