An image of the man suspected of being behind the continuing siege at a Sydney cafe. Source: Channel 7

NSW 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.

A injured hostage is carried to an ambulance. Picture: Rob Griffith Source: AP

Hostages run towards armed tactical response police. Picture: Rob Griffith) Source: AP

After the police moved in, one weeping woman was helped out by the officers and at least two other people were wheeled out on stretchers.

The dramatic scene unfolded shortly after the gunman was identified by local media as Iranian-born Man Haron Monis.

As rumour and speculation swirls around the incident, here’s a breakdown of what we know and what we don’t.

Police siege at Lindt Chocolates at Martin Place Sydney. Source: Channel 9

WHAT WE KNOW

● NSW Police have confirmed the siege is officially over.

● Two hostages required CPR at the scene.

● The hostages had been held for more than 16 hours.

● A female hostage in her 40s was shot in the leg, a Royal North Shore hospital official confirmed. Shge is in a serious, but stable condition.

● At least one person has been killed. An AFP photographer on the scene saw what appeared to be a body, covered by a bloodstained sheet, being stretchered out of the cafe after heavily armed officers entered the cafe in a volley of explosions and flashes.

● A number of explosives were used in the confrontation with the gunman.

● A police officer has been injured with blood streaming from his head.

● A bomb disposal robot was sent into the cafe by police.

● Fifteen hostages were being held by nightfall. Six escaped before police intervened.

● Police authorised the naming of the gunman. He is 49-year-old Man Haron Monis, who is a self-styled preacher of Islamic State on bail for accessory to murder.

● The day he was granted bail last November at Penrith Local Court.

● Police were alerted to the incident about 9.45am yesterday when a woman saw a man outside the cafe with a blue sports bag that appeared to contain a gun

● Five hostages escaped the cafe earlier yesterday, three of whom appeared to be Lindt employees. One male hostage has been treated at St Vincent’s Hospital. A spokesman would not comment on his condition but said “he is fine”

The moment when three hostages emerged from the Lindt Cafe, during a siege in Sydney’s Martin Place. Source: Channel 7

Hostages hold up a black and white flag, believed to be a banner often used by jihadists. Source: Channel 7

● The hostages held a flag up to the window known as The Black Standard, which has been used as a symbol by Islamic extremists

● The flag appeared to be one commonly used by jihadist groups bearing the shahada, or profession of faith in Arabic script ­­ “There is no God but Allah; Mohammed is his messenger.”

● Police erected a large black shield to cover the corner of the Lindt store from view.

● Airspace in Sydney is open but some flights were being diverted around the CBD, according to Qantas

● Police handcuffed a man 200m from the cafe siege yesterday, but a police statement has since clarified the arrest was not related to the siege.

Tactical police have been called in to deal with the continuing siege. Picture: AP Photo/Rob Griffith Source: AP

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW

● Whether the gunman, Man Haron Monis, is alive or dead. It is believed he is among two people who were fatally shot during the police intervention but so far these are unconfirmed reports.

● It is uknown how many hostages were injured. It is believed three have been injured critically, but their condition is unknown.

● Authorities are yet to confirm the number of police involved and injured in the shootout.

● We are not sure whether police will urge workers to stay at home, and whether staff around the vicinity will be let back into buildings.

● We cannot confirm the motivation of the hostage-taker, nor what he is trying to achieve. It has not been confirmed whether the incident is related to terrorism, but NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said officers had “moved to a footing consistent with a terrorism event”

● We do not know if the gunman was carrying any explosives

● We do not know if the hostage-taker is acting alone. “We know it’s at least one,” the commissioner said.

● Commissioner Scipione said police were in communication with the gunman but refused to reveal how. “Suffice to say we have got contact with him,” he told media.

● The commissioner also declined to confirm whether the five who had fled the cafe had escaped or been released.

● We don’t know exactly how many people have been held hostage. Some reports suggest there could be as few at 13, while the Lindt chief executive officer told news.com.au there could be 40 to 50 people held inside, including staff and customers. However, a police spokeswoman indicated there were fewer than 30.

Hostages were pushed up against the windows in the Lindt cafe. Source: Channel 7

Keep up to date with this unfolding story here.