A gunman took an unknown number of people hostage inside a downtown Sydney chocolate shop and cafe at the height of Monday morning rush hour. Two people inside the cafe hold up a flag believed to contain an Islamic declaration of faith.
Sydney, Australia, Hostage Situation
update
![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, Dec. 16, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/07032494-4964-412E-89E5-98C142D6F978_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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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, Dec. 16, 2014.
![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, Dec. 16, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/D8127267-0FEE-44E6-A483-F795FEF807FC_cx3_cy5_cw94_w1024_q10_r1_s.jpg)
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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, Dec. 16, 2014.
![A hostage runs to armed tactical response police officers for safety after she escaped from a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/F49B8085-0164-446C-8191-D5CC1E5D9387_cx0_cy14_cw0_w1024_q10_r1_s.jpg)
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A hostage runs to armed tactical response police officers for safety after she escaped from a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014.
![A hostage runs toward a police officer outside Lindt cafe, where other hostages are being held, in Martin Place in central Sydney, Australia, Dec. 15, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/74917C97-3C5D-424E-BA0D-04455FDE0255_cx8_cy6_cw88_w1024_q10_r1_s.jpg)
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A hostage runs toward a police officer outside Lindt cafe, where other hostages are being held, in Martin Place in central Sydney, Australia, Dec. 15, 2014.