Live video: Sydney hostage drama
Watch live video of the hostage drama in Sydney's Martin Place.
About 10 people are being held hostage in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe.
A person has been seen inside the cafe waving a flag associated with Islamist and jihadist movements. There was at least one gunman inside the building. A number of people could be seen through the windows with their hands held in the air.
* Live developments
* Hostage flag 'not from Islamic State'
1 of 24Andrew Meares
Marcia Mikhael is carried away from the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place.
2 of 24Andrew Meares
Hostages are assisted from the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place in Sydney.
3 of 24Andrew Meares
NSW Tactical Operations Unit police officers keep watch outside the Lindt Chocolate Cafe before the siege ended.
4 of 24
A woman collapses into the arms of a policeman as she runs to safety from the cafe.
5 of 24
A woman runs from the cafe several hours after the hostage drama began in Sydney's CBD.
6 of 24
Police have been patrolling various sites in Sydney as the siege continues. Several landmarks were closed during the day.
7 of 24Daniel Munoz
NSW Tactical Operations police attend the Martin Place siege.
8 of 24Daniel Munoz
Police at the scene of the siege this afternoon.
9 of 24DANIEL MUNOZ/Fairfax Australia
A police officer pointing his weapon towards the siege.
10 of 24Channel 7
Hostages can be seen inside the cafe holding an Islamic flag up against the window.
11 of 24
Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione speak about the siege
12 of 24
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the Canberra press conference.
13 of 24Daniel Munoz
People evacuate a building next to the siege at Lindt Cafe in Martin Place.
14 of 24Peter Rae
Siege in Martin Place, Sydney.
15 of 24PETER RAE/Fairfax Australia
Police respond to the siege in Sydney's Martin Place.
16 of 24Peter Rae
The siege is taking place on a busy Monday in central Sydney.
17 of 24JAMES ROBERTSON/Fairfax Australia
Lindt Cafe worker Bruno arrived not long after the siege began.
18 of 24
This is the same image as that on the flag in the cafe. It is used by global Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.
19 of 24Channel 7
Hostages are being made to hold up the Islamic flag against the cafe's window.
20 of 24Fairfax Australia
People are being kept away from the area and several businesses nearby have been evacuated.
21 of 24DANIEL MUNOZ/Fairfax Australia
Police, including am armed offenders squad, on Sydney's Martin Place.
22 of 24JAMES ROBERTSON/Fairfax Australia
Emergency services at the scene.
23 of 24Peter Rae
Siege in Sydney's Martin Place.
24 of 24Peter Rae
Traffic is being diverted from the area surrounding the cafe.