Sydney Hostage Situation: 3 People Flee Lindt Chocolate Shop

Sydney, Dec. 15 (NsNewsWire) — Three people were seen fleeing from a Sydney cafe after they had been taken hostage — with others still held inside as neighboring blocks remain locked down as police tried to make contact with the perpetrators, authorities said.

The hostages were being held in the Lindt Chocolat Café, a chocolate shop and cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place, the city’s financial district where the Reserve Bank of Australia and several commercial banks have their main offices. The area is also close to the New South Wales state parliament, reports ABC news

Earlier in the day, video emerged showing people being held inside the shop with their hands held in the air. Two women were also seen inside the cafe holding up what appeared to be a black flag with white Arabic writing on it.