DECEMBER 14, 2014
BREAKING: Muslim terrorists holding at least 13 hostages in cafe in Sydney, black Islamic flag in window.
Hostages were being held inside a central Sydney cafe where a black flag with white Arabic writing could be seen in the window, raising fears of an attack linked to Islamic State militants.

Reuters Part of Martin Place, home to the Reserve Bank of Australia, commercial banks and close to the New South Wales (NSW) state parliament, was closed off by armed police.

Live television footage showed patrons inside a cafe standing with their hands pressed against the windows. A black and white flag similar to those used by Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria was also visible.

NSW Police tweeted: “A police operation is underway in Martin Place, Sydney’s CBD. People are advised to avoid the area.” Dozens of police including a SWAT team were setting up and a couple of hundred people were being held back by cordons. Trains and buses were stopped and roads were blocked in the area, with train operators saying there had been a bomb threat at Martin Place.