Updating: What We Know From The Martin Place Hostage Situation

“Police negotiators have had contact and they continue to have contact and we will work through this as we do with our negotiators. It might take a bit of time, but we want to resolve this peacefully and I assure you if it takes a bit of time we will take that time.”

“We have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours, there are people who would wish to do us harm. That’s why we have police and security organisations of the utmost professionalism that are ready and able to respond to a whole range of situations and contingencies including this situation that we are now seeing in Sydney.  

The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves. Australia is a peaceful, open, and generous society. Nothing should ever change that and that’s why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual.  

Of course, if anyone does have any suspicions untoward activity, there is the national security hotline, 1800, 123, 400 which I would urge them to call. This is a very disturbing incident. I can understand the concerns and anxieties of the Australian people at a time like this but our thoughts and prayers must above all go out to the individuals who are caught up in this. I can think of almost nothing more distressing, more terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation and our hearts go out to these people.”

“We are being tested today in Sydney. The police are being tested, the public is being tested, but whatever the test we will face it head on and we will remain a strong democratic, civil society.  I have full confidence in the Police Commissioner and the incredible work of the NSW police force. They are on top of the situation and they are doing everything possible that needs to be done. We are incredibly lucky to have them at our disposal looking after the public in this State.”

“This is a difficult day for everyone that is involved in this particular operation. I can confirm for you that we have an armed defender in premises holding an undisclosed number of hostages in the city. We are at this stage continuing to secure and make sure that we are doing all we can to bring this to a peaceful outcome. We want to matter resolved peacefully and we will do all we need to do to ensure that. We certainly have tight restriction and tight controls around that location and we will work as long as we need to to bring this to an outcome. The officers there are train and professional. They know what they’re doing and they have trained for.”

“We haven’t had contact with the armed offender at this stage… There’s at least one. There are hundreds of officers involved in that very small tight location right now. But again if need be we will escalate that and if need be we’ll take it out to many many more. We still determining what it is that may well be the motivation. We are not in a position to determine where the individual is from.”

“No, it won’t and no it shouldn’t. We are incredibly proud of this city. The values we hold dear and we will continue at every day to protect them. Yes we are being tested today…I am very confident and thankful for the police and their activities and what they’ve done both in the lead-up, what I’ve seen today. We’re incredibly lucky to have them.”

“We would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and kind support over the current situation at the Lindt Chocolate Café at Martin Place. We are deeply concerned over this serious incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the staff and customers involved and all their friends and families. The matter is being dealt with by the authorities and we are waiting for any updates from them.”