Gunman holds hostages in Sydney café

Several people have been taken hostage by at least one armed man at a Lindt cafe in Sydney, Australia. Hundreds of armed police have sealed off the normally busy Martin Place in the central business district. At least three people have been seen inside the cafe with their hands up against a window, and holding up a black flag with Arabic writing. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has described the incident as ‘deeply concerning’. He said it was not yet clear who was behind the incident but that it could be politically motivated, and that the National Security Committee had been briefed. ‘I can think of almost nothing more distressing, more terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation, and our hearts go out to these people,’ he said. A journalist in Sydney says an enormous police operation is in place, on a scale few Sydney residents will have seen before. The incident began as people were arriving for work in Martin Place on Monday morning. Witnesses saw a man with a bag and gun walk into the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe. Police shut down the area, closing roads and moving people away. The Martin Place station was also closed. Lindt said about 10 employees and 30 customers were thought to be inside. Nearby offices were evacuated and police asked people to remain indoors and away from open windows, according to BBC.