Armed Man Reportedly Takes Hostages at Lindt Store in Sydney

Various outlets, including the Sydney Morning Herald, report that parts of central Sydney have been cleared, after a gunman held up a Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place.

A representative of NSW Police has said that officers were called to the shop at around 9.45am. There have since been reports of hostages being taken at the store.

Pictures are emerging on Twitter, although before scrolling on, be warned that some of the images may be upsetting: 

Serious situation unfolding at Lindt cafe. Crawling w Police w guns drawn. Woman inside has hands up on glass inside. pic.twitter.com/wdlWl6jhzM

— Sarah Gerathy (@sarahgerathy) December 14, 2014

#sydneysiege special prayers for the hostages to be released without harm held at the Lindt Cafe in Sydney ATM pic.twitter.com/x98Vovocsm

— Coffee Brothers (@CoffeeBrothers1) December 14, 2014

Journalist Chris Kenny was in the store shortly before the situation began unfolding:

Hold up of some kind in Lindt coffee shop. Just after I walked out. People with arms in air against window. Horrible. Stay away.

— Chris Kenny (@chriskkenny) December 14, 2014

We’ll follow this story as it develops.

UPDATE: Trains between Central and Bondi Junction have reportedly been stopped as part of the police operation, and the Channel Seven newsroom, which faces Martin Place, has been evacuated. 

Channel Seven reports that there are 13 hostages in the cafe. Some outlets reported that the flag being held up by patrons was an ISIS flag, but this is not the case. Per ABC News, the text on the flag reads: “There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is the
messenger of God.”

Elizabeth Street Martin Place right now. @SkyBusiness pic.twitter.com/ZHnCbaf8qI (@dan_murphy)

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) December 14, 2014

Per NSW Police, trains have resumed operating on the city and eastern suburbs lines, however trains are not stopping at Martin Place. Contrary to earlier reports, the Deputy PM’s office has confirmed that the airspace over the CBD has not been closed.

This is the scene at the Sydney Opera House:

Police chopper hovers over a deserted Opera House concourse. #sydneysiege http://t.co/7NdqPYhwcY @cberkman pic.twitter.com/BiZO12n1St

— ABC News (@abcnews) December 15, 2014