At least one gunman has taken several people hostage at a cafe in the Australian city of Sydney.

Pictures on Australian television show at least three people with their hands up against a window, and a black flag with Arabic writing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30473983

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

December 15 2014 00:27 GMT

Holy shit. Nothing on US media that I see of yet.

icystorage

Jollibee19350 Posts

December 15 2014 00:27 GMT

are the australian sas going in?

oBlade

United States5823 Posts

December 15 2014 00:28 GMT

What kind of scum takes hostages at a cafe...

ahswtini

Northern Ireland22211 Posts

December 15 2014 00:29 GMT

No idea, but it sounds like they've sent in an imam to try and negotiate

TelecoM

United States10688 Posts

December 15 2014 00:29 GMT

WOW, I hope they are all ok! Will be praying for those people, and waiting on updates!

Ultimo Hombre

Australia1436 Posts

December 15 2014 00:31 GMT

On December 15 2014 09:28 oBlade wrote:
What kind of scum takes hostages at a cafe...

its mainly cause of the location i think, Martin Place is like the central political/economic district and the place itself is literally across the road from Channel 7 hq

ahswtini

Northern Ireland22211 Posts

December 15 2014 00:32 GMT

if you are in sydney, stay safe and do not tweet details of police activity - jihadists follow social media

Hesmyrr

Canada5776 Posts

December 15 2014 00:34 GMT

On December 15 2014 09:32 ahswtini wrote:
if you are in sydney, stay safe and do not tweet details of police activity - jihadists follow social media

Hope police is smart enough to chase people away if it is possible.

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

December 15 2014 00:34 GMT

#10

Live stream:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/

SoSexy

Italy3725 Posts

December 15 2014 00:43 GMT

#11

Scumbags. I won't say anything more because I would get banned.

GTR

51518 Posts

December 15 2014 00:45 GMT

#12

wow. so lucky i'm not in sydney right now. spine-chilling stuff i'm watching.

rewired

Canada630 Posts

December 15 2014 00:46 GMT

#13

I didn't know anything about it till my friend sent me a text from his work. Saying he can't leave cause everything is locked down. Hope everyone comes out of it ok.

ahswtini

Northern Ireland22211 Posts

December 15 2014 00:47 GMT

#14

The silver lining is that it's a hostage taking so far and hasn't been a straight up shooting rampage

Grettin

42381 Posts

December 15 2014 00:52 GMT

#15

Godspeed, aussie friends.

ControlMonkey

Australia3109 Posts

December 15 2014 00:52 GMT

#16

I was in Martin Place about two weeks ago, and walked right past that cafe. It's right in the middle of the CBD.

GreenHorizons

United States23581 Posts

December 15 2014 00:53 GMT

#17

On December 15 2014 09:34 {CC}StealthBlue wrote:
Live stream:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/

Goodness their coverage is so much more responsible than I am used to.

ControlMonkey

Australia3109 Posts

December 15 2014 00:54 GMT

#18

Well you're not watching the channel 7 or 10 coverage.

ahswtini

Northern Ireland22211 Posts

December 15 2014 00:55 GMT

#19

On December 15 2014 09:53 GreenHorizons wrote:

Show nested quote +

Goodness their coverage is so much more responsible than I am used to.

speaking as an american?

ahswtini

Northern Ireland22211 Posts

December 15 2014 00:57 GMT

#20

apparently the flag is the Shahadah flag with the Islamic creed on it, not the IS flag. still commonly used by militants such as AQAP, al-Nusra etc...could be anything or nothing