Around 15 hostages seized by a gunman who entered a Sydney cafe carrying a black Islamic flag remain trapped in complete darkness. The Lindt cafe in the city centre is surrounded by armed police. Officers have made contact with the gunman. Five people have been seen running from the building. It is not clear how many remain inside. They are being held by a gunman who has forced them to display an Islamic flag, which has sparked fears of a terrorist attack.

Australian Terrorist Attack: Five Hostages Escape from Lindt Chocolate cafe

New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said police were negotiating with the man. “We have the best negotiators in the world and we are working through this methodically to make sure that nobody is injured,” she said.

It is understood the five, some of whom were wearing brown aprons with the Lindt logo on them, escaped rather than being released by the gunman. One woman who escaped has been widely named as Elly Chen.

The first three people ran out of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in downtown Sydney six hours into the hostage crisis, and two women sprinted from a fire exit into the arms of waiting police shortly afterward. Both women were wearing aprons with the Lindt chocolate logo, indicating they were cafe employees.

Watch Australian Terrorist Attack: Gunman Takes Hostages In Sydney Cafe

‘Sydney siege’ gunman uses Hostages to issue Demands:

As the siege unfolded, two people inside the cafe were seen holding up a flag with an Islamic declaration of faith that has often been used by extremists, raising fears that a terrorist incident was playing out in the heart of Australia’s biggest city.

Efforts by police to negotiate a peaceful end to a siege of a cafe in the heart of Sydney’s CBD are continuing well into the night. Police said they are dealing with an armed man, who has been holding an undisclosed number of hostages at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place since about 9.45am.

Police are still treating the incident as a hostage negotiation but have said they are responding to it as if it was a terrorist event and were prepared for anything that might eventuate.

Police clear Martin Place after gunman holds hostages at Lindt cafe:

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told an evening media conference that police were in contact with the suspected gunman, adding that “we are only dealing with one location”.

“Our plan, our only goal tonight is to get those people who are currently caught in that building, out of there,” Mr Scipione said. “Rest assured, we are doing all we can to set you free.”

NSW Premier Mike Baird advised people who normally work in the exclusion zone around Martin Place to prepare to “work from home” on Tuesday, implying authorities are preparing for protracted negotiations.

Watch: ‘Islamists’ take 20 hostages in Sydney cafe siege

Story Summary:

• Five hostages have left the Lindt cafe in Martin Place
• They are all uninjured
• Police won’t say if they escaped or were released
• Hostages are being forced to ring media outlets with the gunman’s demands – police have asked media do not publish them
• Police won’t say how many hostages remain inside the cafe because negotitions are delicate and may take some time

People wanting general information about the siege should call 1800 227 228. Only call 000 in an emergency.