Prime Minister Tony Abbott with wife Margie visit the flower memorial in Martin Place. Source: News Corp Australia

4.05pm: Tributes and emotions are flowing for the victims of the siege.

Hundreds of Sydneysiders are laying flowers at the memorial site in Martin Place in remembrance of the hostages and victims of the siege at the Lindt cafe yesterday. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

4.03pm: US Ambassador John Berry has said the United States was grieving with Australia and extended his personal sympathies to the families of those killed and the hostages injured.

Australia boasted a rich multiculturalism and it was crucial that was remembered at this tragic time, he said.

“Let us overcome the darkness of those who choose hate and violence with hearts filled with the bright shining lights of this season of peace and love,” the ambassador said in a statement.

3.59pm: Meanwhile, back at DFAT, ACT police have tweeted that the package is not suspicious.

3.51pm: Greg Brown reports: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has arrived at the vigil at Sydney’s Martin Place. Mr Abbott and his wife Margie placed a large bouquet of flowers in front of the flower ceremony. Mr and Mrs Abbott stood silently in front of the shrine before making their way to the condolence book tables.

They were at the site for about five minutes and left after writing a tribute

Prime Minister Tony Abbott with wife Margie visit the flower memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

3.30pm: Tony and Margie Abbott have visited the Martin Place memorial and laid a bouquet of flowers. More on that soon.

3.25pm: Meanwhile back at DFAT, A caterer has told the ABC the suspicious package was a backpack in the canteen.

3.21pm: Kylar Loussikian reports: In his first major role as the new Catholic Archbishop of Sydney. Anthony Fisher has told a memorial service that took place this afternoon that “hell has touched us”, as he payed tribute to the heroism of Tori Johnson, whose death “led to the eventual freedom” of other hostages, and to the sacrifice of Katrina Dawson, the Sydney barrister who reportedly died shielding a pregnant friend from gunfire.

“There is an alternative to violence and its recriminations,” Archibishop Fisher told those gathered.

Present at the service were senior members of the federal and New South Wales governments, including federal communications minister Malcolm Turnbull, Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos, NSW premier Mike Baird, and state deputy leader Gladys Berejiklians, alongside Governor-General Peter Cosgrove.

Mr Turnbull, speaking after the service, said it was possible to feel the numbness sitting on a Sydney train this morning.

“(There was a) quiet determination we weren’t going to be intimidated,” he said.

Archbishop of Sydney, Most Reverend Anthony Fisher celebrates a mass to pay respect to the victims of the Martin Place siege Picture: Daniel Munoz/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

3.00pm: Tony Abbott has spoken by phone to the wounded police officer, thanking him for his bravery and service, Phillip Hudson reports. Mr Abbott wished the police officer his best for a speedy recovery and passed on his condolences.

The Prime Minister is expected to visit Martin Place to lay flowers.

2.54pm:Sarah Martin reports in Canberra: A bomb threat is being investigated at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade building in Canberra.

ACT Police received a report of a suspicious package in the canteen area of the DFAT building in Barton at about 1.45pm this afternoon.

Workers are being evacuated from the building and the area has been cordoned off as “a standard safety precaution”, police said.

Members of the Australian Federal Police Bomb Response Team are in attendance.

Police have closed roads near Parliament House, including Brisbane Avenue, John McEwan Crescent and Sydney Avenue while the package is investigated.

Hundreds of people have even evacuated from DFAT building in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

2.44pm: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has just been evacuated after a suspicious parcel was left in the canteen. The bomb squad is on its way to DFAT now.

2.41pm: Ean Higgins reports: About a dozen NSW and federal police with forensic kits have spent three hours at the house of Monis’ partner, Amirah Droudis, in Belmore in Sydney’s west.

You can read the report of the raid here;

Police raid home of gunman’s partner

Police leave the alleged house of Amirah Droudis, partner of Man Haron Monis. Picture: Renee Nowytarger Source: News Corp Australia

2.11pm: News just coming in of a police raid on the home of Amirah Droudis. We will file the report and pictures soon.

Man Haron Monis (right) and Amirah Droudis (left) leave Downing Centre Court in Sydney on the first day of their hearing for sending harassing letters to war widows in 2010. Source: News Limited

1.59pm: Read this story to catch up on what we know and don’t know so far: Sydney siege- what we know so far

1.53pm: As the pile of flowers in Martin Place grows ever higher, Greg Brown writes that local florists are struggling to fill demand.

“Can you do a delivery for me?” said Martin Place florist George Lackerdis, who has already sold out.

Mr Lackerdis said that flowers sold out quicker today than on Valentines Day.

“I’ve got more coming,” he assured waiting buyers.

Mourners continue to flock in droves to the Martin Place vigil to pay their heartfelt respects to victims.

The flower ceremony, which started on the edge of Martin Place train station, has edged towards Castlereagh Street with no sign of slowing.

People of all types are present: the young and the old, investment bankers and builders, Christians and Muslims.

Some bring a bouquet while others choose a single Rose.

One lady, Cat, has been walking around the ceremony with a box of tissues to comfort mourners.

She said she has been the victim of a kidnapping and knows how the hostages would be feeling.

“I’m an old nurse and I’ve been a hostage and I know what it’s like,” Cat said.

“People are hurting and everyone has the right to have a tear today.”

The flower memorial in Martin Placeis growing ever larger. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

1.50pm: The hasthag #illridewithyou started as a post on Facebook supporting the Muslim community but it has gone viral, being used over 120,000 times last night alone. Read our report here: Trend goes global in defence of Muslims

1.40pm: A memorial service is currently taking place at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney to commemorate the victims and hostages of the Sydney siege.

1.34pm:Amanda Hodge reports from Delhi: One of two Indian IT workers caught up in Sydney’s Lindt hostage crisis has spoken to his family to reassure them he is safe and well.

The anxious family of Vishwakant Ankit Reddy erupted with joy after watching live

televised footage of the Australian police storming the Martin Place café after the 16 hour siege.

Within hours the mid-30s senior project manager with Indian IT firm Infosys, who has been working on secondment with Westpac Bank for the past eight months, had contacted his father in the eastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to reassure him.

“He said ‘I am safe and going home, nothing to worry about’,” his father Eswar Reddy said from his home in the coastal city of Guntur.

“God is great. I am happy that Lord Venkateswara and Sai Baba heard our prayers,” he added.

The Australian flag and the New South Wales flag fly at half mast today on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in honour of the victims of the Sydney Siege. Picture: James Morgan Source: Supplied

1.08pm: Man Haron Monis would not have been free to commit terrorism if the new Bail Act was in force, the NSW Attorney General Brad Hazzard says.

Mark Coultan writes: Mr Hazzard also said there would be inquiries into how Monis, who had a history of violence and known extremist views, managed to slip through state and federal anti-terrorism intelligence agencies’ net.

“We are asking state agencies and federal agencies to look very closely at how this offender slipped through the cracks. How did this offender not come to the attention of state and federal agencies for more urgent action? “

He said that inquires were only beginning but early indications were there were aspects that needed investigation.

Mr Hazzard said if Monis, who was on bail for being an accessory to murder and for sexual offences, had been dealt with under the new Bail Act, he would have been forced to show cause why he should be released.

“It’s our intent that offenders involved in serious crime will not get bail.”

Read Mark’s full story here: Monis ‘slipped through legal cracks’

12.59pm: The use in the Sydney siege of techniques used by lone-wolf operators was a ­chilling lesson in the risks faced by modern societies. Read Brendon Nicholson’s article on the rise of the lone wolf terrorist here: Lessons in new extremism

12.53pm: Police and intelligence chiefs may face questions over their surveillance and contact with Man Haron Monis at a parliamentary inquiry this week.

Senior officials from the federal police, ASIO, attorney-general’s department and Australian Crime Commission will appear at the hearing of the joint committee on intelligence and security on Wednesday.

The hearing has been scheduled to examine new data retention laws.

But it is understood members are keen to broaden the scope of the hearing to whether Monis was the subject of surveillance, phone-tapping or metadata checks before he took his action.

Committee chairman, Liberal MP Dan Tehan, told AAP it would probably be too early to get any detailed information on the Sydney incident from agencies.

“There will need to be a proper inquiry and investigation into what happened yesterday,” he said.

Mr Tehan said the incident reinforced the need to extra resources and powers for intelligence and police agencies.

“It just goes to show you can’t stand still when it comes to these things,” he said.

“You are always having to improve resources and powers that the agencies have in dealing with the heightened security situation.”

A former brother-in-law of Sydney gunman Man Haron Monis says the deadly cafe siege could have been prevented. Courtesy ITV.

12.48pm: Rick Wallace writes: The family of hostage Harriette Denny said they were relieved she had escaped the siege but would not be celebrating today “as there are two families whose loved ones have not survived”.

Ms Denny, 30, is believed to have fled from the Lindt café just before the siege ended when police stormed the store in the early hours of this morning.

Her father, Robert, told the Brisbane Times he had learned she was inside the café with the gunman when friends rang to say they had seen her pressing her hands against the window soon after the siege began.

Ms Denny is believed to work at the Lindt store and her family runs the Hidden Bean café in Maroochydore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

In an update posted on the café’s Facebook page, the family wrote: “we are most happy and relieved that our dear family member Harriette is safe and unharmed physically after her terrible ordeal in the Lindt Cafe siege.

“We will however not be celebrating, as there are two families whose loved ones have not survived. Harriette has lost a valued friend and work colleague and our hearts go out to his family and also to the family of the lady who lost her life,’’ the message said.

“We would like to thank all those who have sent us their kind thoughts and prayers.”

Mr Denny could not be contacted yesterday.

12.45pm: Just a reminder: people affected by the Sydney hostage crisis can call Lifeline if they need support.

“It is understandable for people to react strongly after an event like this that has received extensive media coverage throughout the day and night,” Lifeline chairman John Brogden said in a statement.

“If those feelings are overwhelming or if you don’t know where to turn, remember Lifeline is here for anyone who wants to talk or chat online with us.” Lifeline is available all day every day on 131 114 or at lifeline.org.au

12.41pm: The NSW State Coroner has said an inquest is mandatory and will be held as soon as possible. “The State Coroner and staff of the Coroners Court offer their condolences and erspects to the bereaved families and friends of the victims of this tragic event,” Coroner said in a statement.

12.34pm:Rick Morton reports: Tori Johnson’s family released a statement mourning their “beautiful boy”.

“We are so proud of our beautiful boy Tori, gone from this earth but forever in our memories as the most amazing life partner, son and brother we could ever wish for,” the statement says.

“We feel heartfelt sorrow for the family of Katrina Dawson.

“We’d like to thank not only our friends and loved ones for their support, but the people of Sydney, Australia and those around the world for reaching out with their thoughts and prayers.

“Our deepest gratitude to the NSW police, armed forces and paramedics for their tireless efforts.

“We ask that the media respects our privacy in this difficult time.

“Let us all pray for peace on earth.”

12.30pm:Greg Brown writes: Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore has arrived at the Martin Place vigil, praising Sydneysiders for the support shown to victims.

Ms Moore said the “one-off event” would not change Sydney.

“This terrible and tragic one-off event won’t change anything about Sydney,” Ms Moore said.

“We are a harmonious and welcoming city and nothing has changed,

“A terrible one-off event like this can happen anywhere at any time.”

Ms Moore offered sympathy for the families of the deceased and hostages.

She commended the police for their bravery.

“Everyone in Sydney has great sorrow for the loss of life and we support the families and have great empathy for the hostages who had a terrifying experience,” Ms Moore said.

“We are very appreciative of the police and the bravery they have shown.”

The general public visit the flower memorial in Martin Place Sydney after the siege ended overnight. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

12.28pm: There will be a service held for the siege victims at St Mary’s Cathedral at 1.10 pm today.

12.18pm: Another hostage has been named as Lindt cafe employee Harriette Denny. Ms Denny was one of the hostages filmed at the start of the siege with her hands against the glass. Her father Robert, who lives on the Sunshine Coast, said his daughter had been left traumatised by the horrific event.

“I spoke very briefly with Harriette this morning, just asking after her welfare,” he told the Brisbane Times.

“We didn’t speak about her ordeal. We just wanted to know she was safe and unharmed.

“She said that she’s safe and well and in a good place, but terribly upset that she’s lost her manager and friend [Tori Johnson].”

Facebook image of Harriet Denny, who was held hostage during the siege at the Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

12.04pm: More details on the hostages: they include two pregnant woman, aged 30 and 35, taken to hospital for health and welfare assesment. both are stable The male police officer, 39, who suffered a gunshot wound to face has been discharged.

GALLERY: The faces of the Sydney siege

11.56am: Slain Lindt cafe manager Toni Johnson, 34, was a consummate professional who was “so very proud” of his family and the ultimate defender of his staff, colleagues said.

Rick Morton reports: Lindt head office was closed and counselling was organised for all staff who were “shattered” by the news, CEO Steve Loane told The Australian.

All but its senior managers were off work as they grappled with the senseless tragedy.

Peter Manettas, a senior manager with Nick’s Restaurant and Bar Group said he had no doubt whatever happened inside the cafe that Tori was brave.

“He was a selfless leader, he put everyone else first,” he said. “Anyone who has that inside him, it does not surprise me if he acted in such a way.”

Mr Johnson worked for the group for six-and-a-half years and came on board as the general manager of Adria Bar Restaurant.

“He led a team of 40 to 45 people and he stuck up for them. When there were awards handed out he made sure the team got the credit,” Mr Manettas said.

“He was a complete professional, a rare person in this industry. He was extremely ambitious but at the same time he was humble, a gentleman and never took praise himself.”

Mr Johnson went to university at Washington State University where he studied hospitality business management and worked all over the world, including in the Maldives.

He was in a long-term relationship.

Tori Johnson, victim of the Sydney Siege at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. Source: ABC

11.25am:Steve Creedy writes: Veteran Seven reporter Chris Reason, who held an all-night vigil in the network’s studios across from the Lindt Café with a police sniper, said gunman Man Haron Monis became agitated prior to the shootout and may have panicked when hostages tried to escape.

Reason said he saw movement about 1.50pm as the hostages were shuffled from one end of the cafe to the other.

“The gunman appeared agitated, he didn’t know what to do with them,’’ he told Seven’s Sunrise show today. “He was sort of corralling them down one end and then down the other and moving around sort of randomly.’’

The veteran reporter said it was difficult to tell what was going on in the café but as one group of hostages was moved to one end of the café a second group were left behind at the other.

“And they were the group that made the initial break for freedom at three minutes past two this morning,’’ he said, adding that he had counted seven hostages making a break for it.

“Shortly after that several minutes passed of silence – nothing going on – and they we heard a loud shot ring out,’’ he said

You can read Steve’s full report here: ‘Window two, hostage down’

11.21am: Greg Brown reports: A woman at the Martin Place vigil has led the crowd in a moving version of Amazing Grace.

Asking the crowd to join her in song, she said: “I’ve never been more proud to be Australian.”

People continue to place flowers at the memorial. Construction worker Kingi Fehwi, said that the event brought back memories of loved ones that he lost.

“I know what it is like to lose someone and this is not a nice way to go,” Mr Fehwi said.

He says that some of his work mates laughed at him when they saw him get flowers.

“I thought: this isn’t funny, if it happened to your family you wouldn’t be laughing.”

Another flower giver, Emily Haigh, 27, said that she thought it was important to show a sense of community.

“In a big city like Sydney it is easy to forget it, but we are a community,” an upset Ms Haigh said. “I would hope that people show they care.”

The hostages killed in Monday's siege have been identified as Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson.

11.19am: More on the injured. Police have confirmed that six people were injured, including three women: a 75-year-old who had a shotgun wound to her shoulder, a 52-year-old with a shotgun wound to her foot and a 43-year-old with a shotgun wound to her leg.

11.13am: NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Cath Burn says Monis’ motivation is still unknown.

She said the injured policeman was “a little bit shaken” but told her: “I’ll be back at work tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, a former British special forces soldier, who served many years in the SAS, told The Times of London that even when calm negotiations were under way and were seen to be having some impact on the mind of a hostage taker, there was always the potential for a sudden switch in mood. You can read that story here: Maximum force is a last resort

11.02am:Greg Brown reports: Governor General Peter Cosgrove has arrived at the Martin Place vigil to pay tribute to the victims.

Mr Cosgrove told reporters his thoughts were with the families of the deceased.

“Our hearts go out to the innocent victims who lost their lives,” Mr Cosgrove said.

.Tributes to the innocent vicims of the Martin Place siege. Source: Supplied

11.01am: Jared Owens reports: Bill Shorten, speaking in Melbourne, condemned the attack as a “cowardly act of deranged evil” and called for a permanent memorial.

“I believe that Australians understand that we will not reward the perpetrators of this inhuman violence by dividing, which is what this act was aimed to do,” the Opposition Leader said.

“I think we are stronger and cleverer; we are both tenderer and tougher, than the people who would try and divide our society.”

Sydney siege- hostage ‘died a hero’

Barrister mum named as slain hostage

10.48am: Man Haron Monis’s alleged accomplice in the murder of his ex-wife is currently on bail, Nicola Berkovic reports:

The woman, Amirah Droudis, who is believed to be Monis’s partner, was also charged with helping Monis send offensive letters to the families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Droudis, a Wiley Park resident, was charged with murdering Monis’s ex-wife Noleen Hayson Pal in April 2013.

Amirah Droudis is on bail after being charged with the murder of Monis’ ex-wife. Source: News Limited

She is required to report to police every day between 7am and 8pm and has been forced to surrender her passport.

However, Campsie police this morning refused to say whether Droudis had reported this morning as required.

Monis, was also on bail. He was charged with being an accessory before and after the fact to the murder.

Noleen Hayson Pal. was allegedly stabbed and set alight in a Werrington apartment stairwell on 21 April 2013 Source: TheAustralian

Emergency workers found Ms Pal’s body in an apartment block on April 21 after responding to a fire.The 30-year-old had allegedly been stabbed multiple times and set alight.

Monis in 2007 to 2009 wrote offensive letters to the parents and relatives of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Droudis was charged with aiding and abetting him in relation to a number of those letters.

The pair mounted a High Court challenge to the charges, arguing they infringed their right to free speech, but lost.

10.41am: The Sydney siege has reverberated around the world. In New York, police have ramped up security at landmarks including the Empire State Building, Wall St, Columbus Circle and Times Square, as well as the Australian consulate, in a response to the siege.

The city’s Hercules Teams, who are the NYPD’s elite, special forces-type police units, have been sent to guard the Australian consulate in Manhattan.

“There was a lot of intelligence-driven, strategically-based, high-profile police coverage including the heavily-armed Hercules teams at a number of locations including the consul-general’s office for Australia and other Commonwealth countries,” NYPD deputy commissioner John Miller told reporters.

10.33am:Greg Brown reports from Martin Place: NSW premier Mike Baird has arrived at a vigil at Sydney Martin Place to place flowers in honour of this mornings victims.

Mr Baird took few questions and left the scene quickly.

It has been an emotional morning, with many mourners in tears while placing flowers.

At about 10am, a group of five Muslims - three veiled woman and two men placed - flowers while crying

One of them is Dilma Ihram, of the Australian Muslim Woman’s Association.

“As Australian Muslim’s we share the grief and the suffering,” Ms I hear says.

“We are effected like everybody else,”

“Our thoughts are with the families of those (who died),”

She called on the Australian community to stand together and hailed the Ill ride with you campaign on twitter yesterday.

She says she thinks that most Australians will not associate yesterday’s seize with the broader Muslin community.

“But there will always be (some) people who associate this with Islam.”

One woman Michelle works in nearby Chifley Tower and placed flowers out of respect for those kept hostage and who died.

“I feel really sorry of all of those who were held hostage,”

Michelle was in lockdown yesterday and says she was horrified to hear the news that people had died this morning.

She did not know any of the victims

Zaahir Edries, Silma Ihram, Mariam Veiszadeh, Lydia Shelly and Ahmed Aboushabn visit the flower memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

10.30am: The NSW Bar Association has paid tribute to Katrina Dawson.

“Katrina was one of our best and brightest barristers who will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends of the NSW Bar,” association president Jane Needham SC said in a statement.

“She was a devoted mother of three children and a valued member of her floor and of our community.”

10.26am:Justine Ferrari reports: The gunman’s ex-brother-in-law, Talat Khalik, told British ITV that the siege could have been avoided but he was pleased the gunman Man Haron Monis would die in hell.

Monis was facing charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, Mr Khalik’s sister Noleen Hayson Pal, who was stabbed and set alight outside an apartment block in south-western Sydney in April 2013. Monis’s then partner Amirah Droudis, 30, was charged with the murder.

Mr Khalik said Monis, who was on bail for numerous charges, should never have been released from custody.

“It could have been avoided if the system was right over there,” Mr Khalik, who lives in California, said.

“And the other two people that lost their lives, we feel bad for their families too. We know what they are going through.

“Then when I thought about it, I’m happy he’s going to burn in hell. Guys like that shouldn’t be able to walk around anywhere in this world.”

10.25am: Four Westpac employees were among the survivors of the Sydney siege.

Westpac CEO Gail Kelly said the 16-hour siege marked a sad day for Australia.

“My heart goes out to anyone touched by this tragedy,” Ms Kelly said.

“However, it is with relief that we can confirm this morning that all four of our people - including two from one of our technology partners - are safe and accounted for following the incident.

“Our primary concern is the wellbeing of our people who were involved in this traumatic incident, along with their families,” Ms Kelly said in a statement.

Westpac’s Sydney headquarters in Martin Place is directly opposite the Lindt cafe.

Ms Kelly said the bank will not be providing any further comment

10.15am: Man Haron Monis was out on bail after being charged with being an accessory to his ex-wife's murder. He was due to reappear in court in February 2015.

Man Haron Monis, the lone gunman who held hostages in a Sydney cafe until police stormed the building, had an extensive history with Australian law enforcement. Photo: AP

10.09am:Sharri Markson reports: Katrina Dawson was held hostage alongside her colleague, Julie Taylor, a successful barrister in corporate law at Eight Selborne.

Julie Taylor, a barrister at Eight Selborne Chambers that was a hostage during the dramatic seige in Martin Place. Source: Supplied

Ms Taylor, in her early 30’s, was originally from Perth and now lives in Sydney’s east.

She completed a Bachelor of Civil Law at Magdalen college, Oxford and has appeared before the High Court - one of the youngest women to do so.

She is recently married.

Another barrister, Stefan Balafoutis was also held hostage in the Lindt cafe, and was one of the first to escape.

Sydney barrister from Tenth Floor Chambers Stefan Balafoutis, who was lucky to escape the hostage seige in Martin Place Source: Supplied

Mr Balafoutis, who worked as a commercial litigation and trade practices solicitor before joining the bar in 2002, helped police with their investigation overnight.

He declined to give an interview when contacted by The Australian today.

10.05am: Tori Johnson, the manager of the Lindt Cafe who died in the siege has been hailed a hero after reportedly attempting to knock the gun out of Man Haron Monis’ hand.

Sydney siege- hostage ‘died a hero’

Justine Ferrari reports: Mr Johnson had been manager of the Lindt Chocolate Cafe for more than two years, and worked previously in hotel and restaurant jobs around Sydney.

He was a porter and assistant concierge at the five-star Observatory Hotel at The Rocks, before working for hotels overseas in the US and the Maldives.

Mr Johnson returned to Sydney as the food and beverage manager at the Rydges Jamison hotel in the city, and moved to the Adria Rybar and Grill at Darling Harbour before taking on the manager role at the flagship Lindt Cafe in October 2012.

Tori Johnson, Hospitality/Retail Business Manager at Lindt Chocolate Cafe. Picture: LinkedIn Source: Supplied

10.02am: The NSW police commissioner has joined Sydneysiders at a makeshift memorial near Martin Place honouring the two hostages who lost their lives in the Lindt cafe siege. Andrew Scipione arrived at the scene just before 9.30am this morning.

He stood and looked at the floral tributes laid by members of the public and paused for a moment of silence before leaving. “I don’t think I could be sadder,” he told reporters.

“Having said that I’m incredibly proud of our police and what we’ve done.”

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione visits the flower memorial in Martin Place. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

10.01am: Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has called on Australians to demonstrate tolerance in the wake of the hostage crisis.

Mr Newman says the siege, which ended with the deaths of two hostages and the gunman, must be seen for what it is.

“It’s time for solidarity and tolerance, a time for the community to come together and see this incident for what it is - a criminal act by a lone individual,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Newman said he’d asked for flags on state government buildings fly at half-mast on Tuesday as a mark of respect.

“My thoughts and prayers and those of all Queenslanders are with everyone caught up in the terrible events in Sydney’s CBD in the past 24 hours,” he said.

9.53am: Justine Ferrari reports on the victims of the siege: The manager of the Lindt Café Tori Johnson, 34, was one of the two hostages killed during the 16-hour siege, along with 38-year-old barrister Katrina Dawson.

NSW Bar Association president Jane Needham SC announced Ms Dawson’s passing this morning to the NSW Bar.

“Katrina was one of our best and brightest barristers who will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends at the NSW Bar,” she said.

“She was a devoted mother of three children, and a valued member of her floor and of our bar community. Our thoughts are with her family at this time, including her brother, Sandy Dawson of Banco Chambers.

Ms Dawson was believed to be having coffee with colleagues and friends, barristers, Stefan Balafoutis and Julie Taylor, who were also caught up in the siege, but survived.

Katrina Dawson was killed in the Lindt Cafe siege. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Four of the surviving hostages worked for Westpac, including 42-year-old Marcia Mikhael, who was carried out in the arms of police rescue officers early this morning, the terror etched on her face.

Ms Mikhael is an ICT project manager for Westpac, based in its building across Martin Place, and is believed to be undergoing medical treatment at present for apparently non-life threatening injuries.

Chief executive officer Gail Kelly confirmed in a statement this morning that all four Westpac employees are safe, which include two IT contractors for Infosys Australia.

Ms Mikhael, who has previously worked for NSW Police and had earlier run her her own fitness business, posted on her own Facebook page from inside the café yesterday afternoon, documenting the ordeal as gunman Man Haron Monis grew increasingly threatening.

“Dear friends and family,” she began.

“I’m at the Lindt Café at Martin Place being held hostage by a member of the ISI. The man who is keeping us hostage has asked for small and simple requests and none have been met.

“He is now threatening to start killing us. We need help right now. The man wants the world to know that Australia is under attack by the Islamic State.”

Twenty-two-year-old Elly Chen, who had started work at the Lindt Café only six days ago, is believed to be one of the five hostages who escaped yesterday evening.

9.46am: Family members have praised the bravery of the NSW police officers who stormed the Lindt Cafe last night.

“Thank you God for bringing her out alive!” Amal Helen Mikhael - a relative of Marcia Mikhael, who was taken hostage in the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in the heart of Sydney on Monday morning - wrote on Facebook.

Amal Helen Mikhael said Ms Mikhael was in hospital but was not seriously injured.

“Such bravery from the police who risked their own lives to save others,” she wrote.

“God bless these heroes.” Ms Mikhael’s niece Joanne Mikhael said: “Our prayers have been answered.” Earlier on Monday, a post appeared on Ms Mikhael’s Facebook page revealing she was caught up in the siege.

The chilling post listed the gunman’s demands but was taken down a short time later.

Supporters flooded Ms Mikhael’s page with messages of support after police stormed the cafe and ended the siege in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“I will be praying for you and your family,” one person wrote

9.42am: As she cowered in the Lindt cafe yesterday,Marcia Mikhael, a Westpac executive, wrote a series of Facebook posts detailing the horror she and her fellow hostages were going through.

you can read her account here: ‘He’s threatening to kill us’

9.36am: The second victim of the Lindt Cafe siege has been named as Tori Johnson, manager of the cafe.

9.34am: Channel Seven’s newsreader Natalie Barr is breaking down on air as they report on the death of Katrina Dawson: her brother Sandy works at Seven as a lawyer.

9.32am: NBC has quoted Ayuut Khalik, godfather to Monis’ murdered wife Noleen Hayson Pal, saying of Monis: “They should have put him away and thrown away the key,”

9.25am: Jared Owens reports: Tony Abbott has instructed that Australian flags be flown at half-mast on all federal buildings as a mark of respect and mourning for the innocents involved in the Martin Place siege.

NSW Premier Mike Baird has also said flags will fly at half-mast on NSW Government buildings.

9.18am:Rick Morton reports from Martin Place, where emotional Sydneysiders are leaving flowers and cards for teh victims of the siege:

Sleep well, brave ones. The simple inscription on a bouquet of flowers left in Sydney’s Martin Place after a deadly siege bore the sentiments of a nation.

In one of the busiest thoroughfares in Australia people interrupted the usual harried business day to spontaneously lay flowers in an ever-building pile just a block from the Lindt cafe where a gunman struck yesterday.

“It’s the only thing I knew I could do, symbolically, to show that I stand up for peace,” administrative manager Lauren Langley said after laying a bunch of multi-coloured roses.

“I choose to stand up for love, not hate. I choose to exercise love every time.”

A mounting pile of flowers is being left at Martin Place. Picture: John grainger Source: News Corp Australia

9.16am:Sharri Markson reports on Sydney mother of three Katrina Dawson, who has been named as the woman killed in last night’s siege.

The barrister, specialising in commercial, bankruptcy and corporations law, who worked at Eight Selborne, had three children, aged eight, five and three.

A morning coffee at the Lindt Cafe was part of her daily routine and when news of the siege became public, her family contacted her via text message to find out if she was ok.

When she did not reply, they contacted her chambers only to find her absent.

They immediately knew the worst to be true - that she was one of 17 people being held hostage in terrifying circumstances in a siege that shutdown the city yesterday.

Dawson had been having coffee with a colleague from Eight Selborne, a friend who is understand to be about mid-way through her pregnancy.

Hopeful of a positive outcome, her children were not told that their mother was being held hostage at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place yesterday and were being informed of the tragic outcome this morning.

9.13am: Nine News are reporting that the 34 year old man who died tried to knock the gun out of Monis’ hand.

9.10am: Sydneysiders are showing their support to the Muslim community via the Twitter hashtag #illridewithyou, which has gone viral.

Twitter hashtag #illridewithyou goes viral following the Martin Place siege.

9.06am: A memorial a the Lloyd Rees Fountain on Pitt St at Martin Place ahs been set up for people to lay flowers.

9.00am: Sky News is reporting that the end of the siege was triggered when two hostages tried to escape. Monis, who was apparently dozing, then opened fire, leading to the police storming the building. it is still unknown whether the victims were killed by Monis or were caught in the cross fire.

People lay more flowers at the memorial in Martin place. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia

8.59am:Jared Owens writes: Manny Conditsis, the lawyer who won bail for gunman Man Haron Monis, says his former client was “an extreme ideologue” and his turn to violence was “not all that surprising … with the benefit of reflection”.

Mr Conditsis, in a tense interview broadcast this morning, denied feeling any “guilt by association” for representing Monis in court and said his conscience was “absolutely” clear.

Monis was due to stand trial as an alleged accessory to the murder of his ex-wife by his new partner, Amirah Droudis, who allegedly stabbed the woman and set her alight.

Mr Conditsis told ABC News24: “With the benefit of reflection it’s not all that surprising, because he was an extreme ideologue. He had extreme fundamentalist views … an incredible passion to fight governments and rally against them for sending Australia