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
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![A woman is assisted as a group of people are evacuated by police from a building next to Lindt cafe in Martin Place, where hostages are being held, in central Sydney, Australia, Dec. 15, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/4E33B7F5-C3EA-4E60-A7DC-7A57C56878B1_cx0_cy8_cw0_w1024_q10_r1_s.jpg)
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A woman is assisted as a group of people are evacuated by police from a building next to Lindt cafe in Martin Place, where hostages are being held, in central Sydney, Australia, Dec. 15, 2014.