Police end hostage crisis in cafe

monjola sotubo 16:31 - 15 December 2014

A group of armed officers stormed the building and, according to a witness, gunshots were fired but the fate of the gunman and his accomplices is still unclear.

Australian police have ended a 16-hour siege in Sydney where a gunman held occupants of the Lindt Chocolat Café hostage.

A group of armed officers stormed the building and, according to a witness, shots were fired but the fate of the gunman and his accomplices is still unclear.

The hostage-taker has been identified as Iranian-born Haron Monis, who was already facing charges of sexual assault and accessory to murder among others.

A police spokesperson reportedly said that “the operation is over” but did not give any further details.

Monis entered the café early this morning with a gun and a headband which had Arabic writings on it. He also demanded an ISIS flag and forced some hostages to hold up a black Islamic flag.