Hostages run towards armed tactical response police as Sydney’s siege comes to an end. Source: AP

Police named the gunman as Haron Monis, a self-styled sheik. Source: News Limited

A staff member goes to the front door to turn off the lights in the Lindt cafe where hostages are being held at gunpoint in Martin Place, picture Craig Greenhill Source: Supplied

The gunman is seen here apparently holding one of the hostages in the Lindt cafe. Source: News Corp Australia

At least one woman was carried from the cafe, while another was taken away on a stretcher.

The armed man has been named as 49-year-old self-styled sheik Haron Monis, who was accused of helping kill his ex-wife.

Police move in on the Lindt cafe in Martin place. Courtesy ABC News

The confirmation came after an escalation in the crisis about 2am, when five more hostages ran from the cafe where a gunman had been holed up with as many as 20 others since around 10am on Monday.

Initial television footage showed one man running out with his arms raised to police, who patted him down and escorted him to safety.

Minutes later, two more men and two women raced outside and were directed away by police.

Their escape was followed by what sounded like rapid gunfire as heavily-armed officers stormed the cafe.

A second volley of shots erupted before the cafe filled with police and paramedics.

A woman, thought to be middle-aged, was among at least four people carried from the scene on stretchers.

Police have named the gunman at the Sydney siege as Haron Monis. Source: News Limited

Witness Ehab Ibrahim said it appeared something had “gone wrong”.

“It was like they were preparing and there was a big bang and then we saw rescuers running in and checking the faces of the police officers for injuries,” Mr Ibrahim said.

“Then there was a woman was screaming and pulled out holding her feet.”

Five minutes later another police flash bomb was set off “and then it all started again”.

Three shots were fired, followed by a barrage of rapid gunfire. Shortly afterwards paramedics rushed into the building, with at least three people carried out on stretchers.

2.15am: A GROUP of hostages have run from the Lindt cafe, in Sydney’s Martin Place, where a gunman had been holding hostages in a siege that started just before 10am. Police have stormed the building, firing shots and throwing flash bombs into the building.

Television footage initially showed a man running from the eatery with his arms raised, shortly after 2am, before being patted down by police and escorted to safety.

Minutes later, two more men and two women raced outside and were directed away by police.

Their escape was followed by 10 seconds of rapid gunfire as heavily-armed police stormed the cafe in numbers, managing to release others.

A woman, apparently middle-aged, was carried from the scene injured.

A second volley of shots erupted before the cafe filled with police and paramedics.

A number of stretchers were wheeled into the building, however, it was unclear how many people may have been injured.

Hostages' night of terror

An injured hostage is carried to an ambulance after shots were fired during a cafe siege at Sydney’s Martin Place. Source: AP

11.25pm: Anthony Klan reports: POLICE have approached and questioned three Muslim men who have attended the site of Sydney’s Martin Place hostage situation this evening to pray.

Samer Alaoui told The Australian he and his two friends had come to the CBD to pay their respects to the hostages and to pray for them to be “freed and safe”. Mr Alaoui called for the hostages to “remain calm” as “God’s looking out”. “The positives, they always overcome the negatives,” he said. Mr Alaoui said the men knew nothing of the alleged perpetrator but

they had come to pay their respects having seen events unfold in the media. “We saw this on the TV and thought we’d come down here tonight instead of going to the gym,” Mr Alaoui told The Australian. The men, all muscular, bearded and in their 30s, attracted the attention of police, who held a 15 minute conversation with them. Mr Alaoui said the police had spoken to them and asked them routine questions because the police were on “high alert”. “We’re all Australians, we’ve been born and raised in this country,” he said. “We just want for the hostages to be freed and safe.”

SYDNEY SIEGE: What we know so far

9.00pm: Two of the hostages who fled the Martin Place cafe during the Sydney siege have been named as lawyer Stefan Balafoutis and Lindt Cafe employee Elly Chen.

Indian IT giant Infosys have also confirmed one of their employees is one of the hostages still inside the cafe.

8.30pm: A press conference has been held to give updates on the Sydney siege at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione suggested that the siege could last for days, saying NSW police had many officers involved in the operation but, “We are certainly looking to increase those numbers in coming days if this drags on,” writes Mark Coulton.

Mr Scippione urged the media and anyone else with contact to those inside the café to ask them to, “ensure the man inside speaks to police, speak to our trained negotiators.”

He refused to say if the five people who got out of the café had escaped or were released. He said: “We are just pleased to see them out.”

He added, “We have the very best negotiators in the world, on the job, right now,” and “we’re not in the business of speculating, we’re in the business of investigating.” He refused to give any details of the gunman but clarified that no one has been injured and they are only dealing with the one location at the Lindt Cafe. He says one hostage who fled went to hospital for a pre-existing condition.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said there would continue to be an exclusion zone around Martin Place tomorrow, and asked workers in affected buildings to work from home.

TIMELINE: How the Sydney siege unfolded

8.21pm: A heartwarming hashtag is trending on Twitter, as events unfold in Sydney’s siege. Hundreds of commuters are volunteering to ride with Muslims as they travel to work tomorrow. #illridewithyou is attracting plenty of attention, Brighette Ryan reports.

8.20pm: A muslim prayer session is held at Lakemba Mosque, Sydney, for the hostages.

8.05pm: More than 200 onlookers continue to hover about Martin Place tonight, over ten hours after the Sydney siege at the Lindt store began, reports Anthony Klan.

All day hundreds of onlookers have gathered at the intersection of Castlereigh Street and Martin Place, staring east up the hill to the Lindt store where the siege has been steadily unfolding.

Throughout the afternoon casually dressed observers - it appears most office workers forced to exit their buildings had no desire to mill about - have hovered around the intersection. Most have spent much of the day taking photographs, videos - and “selfies”.

Several groups of travellers were seen posing in front of the police tape, while more “selfie sticks” appeared than seemed warranted given the circumstances.

Outside the Opera House this morning a couple of less than fortunate newlyweds were having professional romantic photographs taken while jostling with quizzical onlookers and a puzzled media.

7.45pm: AS the Sydney siege at a Lindt cafe in Martin Place passes the ten-hour mark, a lot of speculation and misinformation continues to flood social media.

Kate Sullivan has put together a summary of what we know, and what we don’t know, in regards to the ongoing hostage situation.

7.33pm: NSW Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn has been speaking to the media in regards to the Sydney siege at the Lindt cafe in Martin Place, where a gunman is holding a number of people hostage.

“Our approach is to resolve this peacefully. It might take a bit of time but that is our approach,” Deputy Commissioner Burn said.

“What we are seeing now is this unevolving as a negotiation that the NSW Police is undertaking with the person who is in the premises.

There is speculation about what he might want, but we have to deal with him on the level of police negotiation. We cannot be engaged in any speculation.

7.20pm: A line-up of ambulances stretch along Macquarie Street, outside the old Sydney Hospital, in case they are needed urgently at the Sydney siege site at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, reports Brad Norington.

Police are maintaining an extended road block around the site from Hunter Street in the north, through Martin Place to the Supreme Court building near Hyde Park.

6.50pm: Hostages inside the Lindt cafe at the centre of the Sydney siege in Martin Place have been in contact with media outlets in regards to possible demands.

However, police have asked that they are not to be made public as they could jeopardise the safety of the hostages.

Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn says a resolution to the siege may still take some time.

Police are also monitoring social media after reports hostages are tweeting from inside.

6.30pm: 7News reporter Chris Reason has tweeted that he has been allowed back into the Martin Place newsroom, which overlooks the Lindt cafe where the Sydney siege is taking place.

Reason is reporting the gunman is rotating hostages and forcing them to stand against windows, sometimes two hours at a time. He is also reporting a mixture of men and women are being held hostage, but no children.

6.20pm: Here is the full statement from Prime Minister Tony Abbott regarding the Sydney siege taking place at Martin Place, where a gunman is holding a number of people hostage.

“I want to give you a brief update on the siege in Sydney. I have just chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee of the Cabinet, which was briefed by Premier Baird and Andrew Scipione, the New South Wales Police Commissioner, on the unfolding situation.

This is a very disturbing incident. It is profoundly shocking that innocent people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation.

A hostage runs to armed tactical response police officers for safety. Picture: Rob Griffith Source: AP

“Nevertheless, I can say that New South Wales Police and other agencies have responded to this incident with great professionalism.

“Throughout the day, there has been nothing but complete and total cooperation between different Governments and different agencies.

“You can be proud of the way your police and security bodies have responded to the events of this day.

“I think I can also commend the people of Sydney for the calmness with which they have reacted to this disturbing incident.

“We are a free, open and generous people and today we have responded to this in character.

“Obviously, images have been beamed around our country and around the world.

“I have received messages of support from a number of international leaders and I thank them for their encouragement on this difficult day.
“Yes, it has been a difficult day. Yes, it is a day which has tested us, but, so far, like Australians in all sorts of situations, we have risen to the challenge.”

6.11pm: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made another statement regarding the siege at a Sydney CBD cafe.

“This is a very disturbing incident,” Mr Abbott said. “It is profoundly shocking that innocent people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation. I have received messages of support from world leaders and I thank them for their encouragement on a difficult day.”

5.34pm: Anthony Klan reports: Police, state emergency services and welfare organisations are preparing for a long night ahead, setting up large tents at the northern end of Hyde Park in the city’s CBD, a handful of blocks from the Sydney siege at the Lindt store.

Two large white tents have been erected and pallets of bottled water are being forklifted into the area, as scores of aid workers prepare to deal with the fallout from the ongoing saga.

About a dozen workers from the NSW Department of Community Services disaster welfare division are congregating in the area, which will be the base point for those involved in today’s counter terrorism efforts.

“We’re just here to help anyone who needs it,” said one NSW government disaster welfare worker.

Much of the northern end of the park has been cordoned off, with State Emergency Services and NSW Fire Service vehicles supplying goods.

One NSW disaster welfare representative said personnel were there “to help police with a situation” but declined to comment further.

5.25pm: Brad Norington reports: It is believed at this stage that a lone gunman is holding a group of customers and staff hostage in the Sydney siege that started close to 10am.

Police are understood to have been engaged in negotiations with the alleged hostage-taker. The city around the siege site has been closed off, although police security involving a wider area has eased.

The release of the two women staff members minutes ago followed an earlier incident in which three men were seen escaping by a side exit after being held since the siege began.

Police have now pulled back a road block in Sydney’s Phillip Street to Hunter Street which has a clear view to the Lindt shop. The building above, which has been evacuated, normally houses some of Sydney’s top barristers at Frederick Jordan Chambers.

5.18pm: This is video of the two female staff members fleeing to safety.

Two people more people have run from the building, two female Lindt cafe employees which brings the total number of hostages who have now left the cafe to five. Courtesy: Channel 9

5.11pm:SYDNEY SIEGE: WHAT WE KNOW

- Five people - three men and two women - have fled from the Sydney CBD café where hostages are being held by a gunman.

- Police negotiators have had contact with the gunman but his motives remain unclear.

- Earlier, a number of hostages were forced to hold an Islamic flag against the window.

- A number of buildings around the CBD have been evacuated and thousands of workers were sent home early.

- NSW Police have activated task force pioneer, an operation only put into action when there is a terror-related event.

5.09pm: This dramatic picture from 9 News shows a female employee fleeing the cafe.

A Lindt Cafe hostage flees to safety. Source: Supplied

5.02pm: Australia’s sharemarket and dollar trading both felt the effects of the siege in Sydney’s financial heart. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed down 33.5 points, or 0.64 per cent, while the broader All Ordinaries index lost 32.3 points, or 0.62 per cent.

Airline stocks suffered after media speculation about Sydney airport closing to traffic, while bank stocks were hit as ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, and Westpac closed some branches in the city.

Earlier, traders cited the siege as a factor in the continuing slide in the Australian dollar, which touched a new four-and-a-half year low.

4.58pm: Channel 7 is reporting that two more hostages, this time women, have run out of the cafe, taking the total freed to five.

4.53pm: It is still not known whether the three hostages were freed or escaped.

4.49pm: Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has reassured Queenslanders there is no safer place to live in the wake of the Sydney siege.

Mr Newman said his thoughts and prayers were with the hostages being held at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place, as well as their families and friends.

“Let us hope that this can be resolved peacefully without any violence, without any loss of life,” he told reporters in Brisbane.

4.46pm: The Grand Mufti of Australia has said he felt devastated by the siege. “The Grand Mufti and the Australian National Imam Council condemn this criminal act unequivocally and reiterate that such actions are denounced in part and in whole in Islam,” Professor Ibrahim Abu Mohamed said in a statement.

“We along (with) the wide Australian society await the results of the investigation about the identity of the perpetrators and their underlying motivations behind the criminal act.” Australian Federation of Islamic Councils past president, Rehin Ghauri, said he was gravely concerned for his “Australian brothers and sisters”.

“Holding people hostage like this is totally, absolutely and honestly un-Islamic,” Mr Ghauri said..

He hoped those behind the attack were “quickly apprehended and brought to justice”.

4.40pm: Charles Sturt University’s counter-terrorism expert Associate Professor Nick O’Brien has warned that the siege could continue for some days.

“Police will be there assessing how they can deal with the problem. The first step will be negotiation and then something harder and they’ll even be thinking of handing it over to the military,” he said.

4.34pm: You can see Chris Kenny telling Sky News in this video how he witnessed the start of the siege

News Corp Australia columnist Chris Kenny tells a Sky News crew that he saw the beginning of the Lindt cafe siege drama unfold in Sydney's Martin Place. Courtesy Seven Network/ Sky News

4.31pm: Lindt Chocolate Cafe Australia has put a message on its Facebook page saying: “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.”

4.30pm: The gunman has been described as being in his forties, and wearing a black vest. Police have said there are fewer than 30 people in the cafe.

4.28pm: NSW Police have activated task force pioneer, an operation only put into action when there is a terror-related event.

Meanwhile, specialist negotiators are talking to the gunman.

4.25pm: Armed police at the ready in Martin Place:

Armed police officers point as they stand at the ready close to the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. Picture: AP Photo/Rob Griffith Source: AP

4.24pm:

4.20pm: The Opera House has just announced that it is going to cancel tonight’s performances.

A spokesman said: “In light of the situation in the CBD today, we have decided to cancel tonight’s performances at the Opera House. This is to minimise pressure on transport networks and to provide as much notice as possible to staff and patrons.

The cancelled performances are:

· The Australian Ballet’s The Nutcracker in the Joan Sutherland Theatre;

· The Sydney Theatre Company’s Switzerland in the Drama Theatre; and

· Damon Albarn’s performance in the Concert Hall.

Damon Albarn has agreed to schedule two performances tomorrow, one at 7pm and the other at 9:30pm.

4.17pm: As it is confirmed that one Lindt employee and two customers have been freed, we return to that press conference with NSW deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn. Ms Burn said police did not yet know why the gunman was taking the action he has.

“Those motivations are not known and it would not be good to speculate,” she said.

“We know have numerous police working on who this person is and what those motivations might be.” The number of hostages in the Martin Place cafe is not clear, but Ms Burn said it was less than 30.

4.14pm:

TIMELINE: How the Sydney siege unfolded

4.11pm: You can see our updated picture gallery of the Sydney siege here:

GALLERY: In pictures- Siege in Sydney CBD

4.08pm:Jared Owens reports: Tony Abbott has convened another meeting of his National Security Committee of Cabinet, starting at 4pm, as the siege passes its seventh hour.

4.07pm: NSW deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn has confirmed that three hostages escaped from the cafe.

“We do not have any information that anyone is harmed at this stage,” Ms Burn said.

She also said police could not confirm how many people remained inside the Lindt cafe in Martin Place.

4.05pm: Anthony Klan reports: Police with sniffer dogs are now weaving their way through crowds of onlookers near the Lindt store siege, presumably searching for explosives.

It comes as at least three hostages have left the store under the guard of heavily armed officers.

4.04pm: you can see video of the first three hostages fleeing the Sydney siege here.

Three hostages - two customers and one employee - run out of the Lindt cafe where there is currently a hostage situation. Courtesy: Seven Network

4.01pm: A hostage is shown here running from the cafe to shelter behind police.

Ahostage flees the Martin Place cafe siege. Picture: Channel 7. Source: Supplied

3.54pm: The police have just confirmed that three hostages, all male, have been able to escape from the cafe.

3.37pm: Television pictures seem to show that a number of hostages have been released from the cafe. One of them was wearing an apron, suggesting that he was a member of staff.

3.32pm: The siege has been going on for nearly six hours now.

3.27pm: You can read Natasha Robinson's full report on the reactions of the Islamic community to the Sydney siege at this link:

COMMUNITY: Islamic leaders offer assistance

3.21pm: Police have closed off Martin Place between Macquarie and Elizabeth Streets with Martin Place train station shut down. Martin Place has several prominent buildings, including NSW Premier Mike Baird’s office, the Reserve Bank of Australia, Westpac Bank and the Commonwealth Bank headquarters as well as the US embassy and Network Seven. The Supreme Court, Sydney Hospital, NSW Library and NSW parliament are all nearby and have been shut down for the day.

3.19pm: Macquarie Radio has reported the gunman has told negotiators he has “devices all over the city” and wants to “speak with the prime minister live on radio”.

Meanwhile, workers who remain trapped in buildings inside the police cordon have been told to stay away from the windows.

Justin Doyle, who works in legal offices inside the cordon, said colleagues were “very scared”.

“They are desperate to get out but can’t,” he said from outside the cordon.

3.16pm: Opposition leader Bill Shorten has just spoken on the siege, saying Australians are shocked by the siege, “but we won’t be shaken.”

3.09pm:Mitchell Nadin reports: 2GB radio host Ray Hadley has said the gunman had made contact with him through a hostage, trying to get his message out on air. But Mr Hadley said he refused to enter into negotiations or broadcast any demands from the man, publicly urging him to talk to police instead.

“The media can’t play a role in negotiating with people purporting to be from Islamic State holding hostages at a café in Sydney,” Mr Hadley said. “It is the job of authorities to solve this problem … who have the expertise to deal with these matters, not with radio broadcasters.”

Mr Hadley said he was being pressured to say things “that we simply cannot say” because his “message had been hidden from the public”.

“It has not been hidden from the public,” Mr Hadley said. “Judging by the email traffic everyone in the world knows what’s happening in Sydney at the moment. You’ve made your statement.”

Radio veteran Ray Hadley says the gunman attempted to make contact with him through a hostage. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

3.08pm: Greg Brown reports: Police have removed a man from a crowed of onlookers in the Martin Place building. Tensions erupted as the man started spouting anti Islamic slogans.

3.02pm: Natasha Robinson reports: NSW Police have this afternoon moved to brief Islamic community leaders on the hostage crisis. Various community leaders meeting with police at Campsie police station in southwest Sydney.

Lebanese Muslim Association President Samier Dandan spoke to police during the meeting via conference call and said he was given no information beyond what has currently been released by NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.

“We are on standby as the event unfolds, but we still don’t know all the facts,” Mr Dandan said. “We have offered our help and our assistance to the agencies. As a community we are very much concerned for the wellbeing of the hostages. Our hearts and minds at with the hostages at this point in time.”

We will publish the full report soon.

2.56pm: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

- There is at least one gunman, possibly two holding around a dozen people hostage.

- A hostage has called a Sydney radio station but it is not known what they said.

- NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says the police are treating the siege as a hostage situation but were “on a footing consistent with a terrorist act”.

- The Opera House was evacuated after reports of a suspicious package.

- President Obama has been briefed on the situation.

2.52pm: You can read the full report on the joint press conference with NS

W Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione at this link.

SYDNEY SIEGE: Police ‘tested’ over hostage situation

2.51pm:Darren Davidson writes: Car-sharing service Uber has defended itself against accusations of price gouging after raising prices in the Sydney siege because of the ongoing hostage situation.

The US brand, which has earned a whopping valuation of $US18.2 billion based on word of mouth and cool credentials, is facing a rare social media backlash following complaints from customers.

The app has quoted a fare of $145-$184 from a trip from Pitt Street to Sydney airport, roughly four times the normal fare.

As it came under fire from social media users, Uber said the price hike was initiated to attract more drivers to the CBD.

2.45pm:Jared Owens writes: Treasurer Joe Hockey has cautioned Australians against being intimidated by the Sydney siege. Mr Hockey, who has urged Australians to stimulate the economy by spending for Christmas, said: “I don’t want to pass immediate judgment on what’s happening in Sydney but I just say, look, we cannot allow these events to shut down our country, to shut down who we are as an Australian people.

“We will not be intimidated, no matter how horrific these events can be we cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated by people who try to bully us and threaten us.”

Mr Hockey said the Reserve Bank, situated “right next-door” to the Lindt Café, is operating normally and he is in regular contact with governor Glenn Stevens.

2.40pm: Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has said he is closely watching events in Sydney. He has offered the people of Sydney his best wished.

2.36pm: An armed officer runs down the street near the siege.

An armed police officer runs along the street close to the Lindt Cafe. Picture: AP Photo/Rob Griffith Source: AP

2.27pm: NSW Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione have haled a joint press conference. JustineFerrari reports: from the joint press conference of NSW Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione: Police are still unsure of the motivation behind the gunman holding a number of hostages. Mr Baird and Mr Scipione confirmed there was one armed offender holding “an undisclosed number of hostages” but he said police were yet to establish direct contact with the gunman.

“My advice is we haven’t had contact with the armed offender,” he said. “We’re still not in a position to determine where the individual is from.”

Mr Scipione said at this stage police were treated it as a hostage situation but were “on a footing consistent with a terrorist act”.

Mr Baird said the people of Sydney were being tested but he had full confidence in the police, who had acted decisively.

“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. We will remain a strong, democratic, civil society,” he said.

Mr Scipione said there was no connection with the arrest early this morning of a man in Beecroft in Sydney’s northwest by the counterterrorism taskforce but police were checking a number of calls on a range of threats, including explosive devices in the city. All had so far proved false.

Hundreds of police had been mobilised, including those specially trained for terrorist threats, tactical officers and negotiators to general duties officers and traffic police handling road closures.

Mr Scipione urged people to stay calm with reports sprouting around the city of other areas being evacuated or locked down, saying the action was concentrated in a small area in the Martin Place area.

“People see a police vehicle drive down their street and think they’re suburb or shire may be involved. That’s not the case, “ he said.

2.15pm: Just to remind you of the exclusion zone around the siege area, take a look at our live map here.

2.12pm:

IN-DEPTH: Full coverage of the Lindt Cafe siege

2.11pm: The Commonwealth Bank has closed all its branches in the CBD.

2.10pm: Construction workers wait at the Opera House

Construction workers wait at the Sydney Opera House as it has been evacuated. Picture: Braden Fastier Source: News Corp Australia

2.03pm: This is a video of the Sydney Opera House evacuation.

The area surrounding the Sydney Opera House is evacuated following the Martin Place siege. Courtesy: Instagram/LukeHopewell

2.02pm: Mr Scipione has said the police are still trying to determine what the Islamic flag stands for. “It’s a flag that we’ve had people looking at. We’re working with partner agencies to better determine what we’re dealing with,” he said.

2.01pm: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has sent a message of support to Mr Abbott.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Mr Key said he has sent a text message to Mr Abbott offering his support. New Zealand’s national security system has been activated and individual agencies will be assessing what they need to know and do, the spokeswoman said.

2.00pm: The police presence is “very heavy,” he said but if need be, it will be increased “to many, many more.”

There is at least one gunman.

1.59pm: Mr Scipione said police still did not know the gunman’s motivation and were working to determine where he was from.

1.56pm: NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione is speaking now. He says police are doing all they can to resolve the situation peacefully. He says there are tight controls around the location.

“The officers there are will trained. They know what they are doing,” he said.

1.53pm: Barack Obama has been briefed about the siege, White House officials say. Lisa Monaco, the president’s top counterterrorism adviser, had spoken to Obama about events in the Australian city, a White House official said

1.51pm: There is a lot of confusion over how many people are held in the cafe with the gunman. Chris Kenny, who left the cafe moments before the siege began, says that there were about 12 customers there when he was inside, and three or four staff.

IN PICTURES: Siege in Sydney CBD

1.49pm: Queensland’s police commissioner says he has information an improvised explosive device is involved in the siege.

Ian Stewart has told the Queensland government that information was “firming up” that an IED is involved.

1.41pm: Anthony Klan reports: A sister store of the Lindt shop under siege, Lindt on nearby George Street in the Suncorp building, had also closed its doors.

A shop worker said the store had closed its doors because of the wider lockdown, but she and other staff remained in the dark about the situation unfolding in the Martin Place store.

“We don’t know anything, if you have any news for us about our friends that would be great,” she said.

1.38pm: NSW Police Commisisioner Andrew Scipione has confirmed that the person who rang Ray Hadley was a hostage.

1.34pm: 2GB’sRay Hadley is saying that someone claiming to be one of the hostages has rung him, with the gunman giving instructions. hadley has gone off air to talk to the apparent hostage.

1.33pm: It seems that there are more people in the cafe than was first reported. Lindt Australia CEO Steve Loane now says there are up to 40 to 50 customers and employees inside the cafe.

1.31pm: you can read our coverage of Tony Abbott’s press conference at this link.

TONY ABBOTT: Perpetrator’s motive unknown

1.28pm: We’ve removed the live stream of Mr Abbott’s press conference but you can watch the video here.

PM Tony Abbott says motivations are unknown, but there are indications that the Sydney siege could be politically motivated.

1.23pm: ThisCCTV image appears to show the gunman holding a hostage.

This CCTV image appears to show the gunman holding one of his hostages. Source: News Corp Australia

1.14pm: This is the scene in Hyde Park this morning, to where evacuees from Martin Place have flocked.

Evacuees in Hyde Park due to the Martin Place siege. Picture: AAP Image/Julia Carlisle. Source: Supplied

1.11pm: The Prime Minister has just confirmed that MYEFO will go ahead as planned. Joe Hockey will be releasing the Midyear Economic and Fiscal Outlook at 1.30pm

1.09pm: People being evacuated from buildings near Martin Place.

People being evacuated from a building in Sydney's CBD near the siege under way in Martin Place Picure: AAP Image/Joel Carrett) Source: Supplied

1.03pm: Jared Owens reports from Tony Abbott’s press conference: Tony Abbott has emerged from a meeting of cabinet’s national security committee, saying authorities “don’t yet know the motivation of the perpetrator”.

“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 Prime Minister told reporters in Canberra.

We will publish the full report on his press conference soon.

PM Tony Abbott holding a press conference in the Prime Minister's Courtyard at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: News Corp Australia

1.01pm: Back to the Opera House: Michael Boland writes: With Sydney Opera House staff not answering phones there is a question mark over Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s planned performance there tonight.

The sold-out performance, the first of two concerts, is scheduled to begin at 8pm.

The Australian Ballet could not say if its performance of The Nutcracker, scheduled for 6.30, would proceed but a member of the Opera and Ballet Orchestra said they were planning to perform until such time as they were informed otherwise. Dancers are required to be at the theatre from 3pm today for their regular call time three and a half hours before the curtain.

The actors and crew for the Sydney Theatre Company’s popular drama Switzerland are due to arrive at the Opera House about an hour before the scheduled start time of 6.30.

12.59pm: Mr Abbott said: “I can think of almost nothing more terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation.” However he has urged Australians to go about business as usual.

12.57pm: Lebanese Muslim Association President Samier Dandan says Australian Muslim leaders are meeting online now to see if the community can help.

“If there’s something that the Australian Muslim community can do to assist, we are there,” he told ABC.

12.56pm: Mr Abbott said he wasn't sure if the siege was politically motivated.

12.53pm: The Prime Minister is holding a press conference now. The live feed is embedded (scroll down to 12.37pm)

Mr Abbott has said the National Security Committee of the cabinet has been briefed on the situation.

12.52pm:

Footage has emerged of heavily armed police running near Martin Place in Sydney's CBD.

12.47pm: Here is a live map of the exclusion zone around the Lindt cafe siege.

12.45pm: Anthony Klan reports: Tactical unit police officers appear to be crouching behind shields they have placed along the windows of one side of the cafe under

siege.

12.44pm: Rick Morton reports: RBA employee Sai arrived for work as the hostage drama began to unfold.

“I don’t think even the police knew the intensity of it when it first

started,” he said. “I saw people walked slowly, almost like they were pushed, to the

windows with their hands in the air.”

12.43pm: This is the moment police took down a suspect in Martin Place in an unrelated incident.

Police take down a suspect in Martin place 11.35am Source: News Corp Australia

12.39pm: Chris Kenny, who had just left the cafe when the siege began, describes what happened here.

12.37pm: This is the live feed of Tony Abbott’s press conference. It was due to take place at 12.30 but has been slightly delayed.

12.36pm: Greg Brown writes: Another group of workers are evacuated from a nearby building onto Castlereagh Street. Most evacuated workers look to be on the phone to loved ones.

12.35pm: Bruno, an employee at the Lindt cafe, arrived for work about 9.45am and told ABC 24: “I walked up to the door, everyone was sitting down, and the doors were locked, which was pretty weird because they’re never locked. One guy was walking around with a hat and a beard, just walking around.

Then I saw the manager and he was talking to another guy, and told me it was an armed robbery, then the police showed up and cordoned off the whole area. Then everyone inside had their arms against the window, hands up.”

12.33pm: Steve Creedy writes: Virgin Australia and Qantas said flights had not been affected by the crisis. Neither fly over the CBD but Qantas said it was giving the area a slightly wider berth to allow police helicopters room to operate.

12.31pm: Andrew White reports; Macquarie Bank has just released a statement about its headquarters on Martin Place

“Given uncertainty around the situation in Martin Place Macquaire Group is relocating certain staff from its 50 Martin Place building to other Macquarie premises in Sydney

“Other staff in the building will proceed to work from home.’’

Macquarie extensively refurbished and moved into the former Commonwealth Bank building earlier this year. But it retains staff at the other end of Martin Place in the former GPO building that was its headquarters until earlier this year.

12.30pm: Greg Brown reports: Police are evacuating some workers from the adjacent building at 39 Martin Place. They are being evacuated through Castlereagh Street.

12.29pm: A man has been handcuffed 200m from the Martin Place cafe siege in central Sydney.

A police officer has his foot on what appears to be a small black handgun. however police have tweeted saying the incident is not related to the siege.

12.28pm: Anthony Klans reports from the Opera House: Security guards are allowing some employees and contractors back into the Opera House, while police tactical teams have dispersed, suggesting the area has been downgraded to lower risk.

12.27pm: Bill Shorten has released the following statement: “Our thoughts and prayers today are with the innocent people involved in this morning’s incident in Martin Place, Sydney.

Our thoughts are also with their families who are seeing this incredibly distressing situation unfold, along with the rest of Australia.

I have full confidence in the skill and professionalism of our police and security agencies.

I have spoken to Prime Minister Tony Abbott this morning and offered him the Opposition’s full support at this time.

Australians can be assured that we are one when it comes to keeping Australians safe.”

12.26pm:Jared Owens writes: Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann have postponed the release of the midyear budget update in response to the unfolding emergency in Sydney. Prime Minister Tony Abbott will instead address the media at 12.30pm

12.23pm: If you are around Martin Place, feel free to send us your pictures and words at: NSW@theaustralian.com.au

12.19pm: It looks as if reports of a suspicious package at the Opera House are unfounded.

12.18pm: Tony Abbott is to hold a press conference about the siege a