Two hostages and the gunman at the centre of the 16-hour siege at a Sydney cafe were killed and four others were injured when heavily armed police stormed a central city cafe.
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In dramatic scenes early this morning, police in body armour and armed with assault rifles entered the building, loud bangs and shouting were heard. A group of hostages then ran out.
About 20 hostages had been held in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in the Martin Place since about 9.45am yesterday.
Shots were fired during the confrontation between police and the hostage-taker shortly after 2am and the 50-year-old gunman was killed. He has been identified as self-styled Muslim cleric Man Haron Monis who has been on bail for a charge of accessory to murder.
A 34-year-old man and a woman, aged 38, were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.
Two women are in hospital with non life-threatening injuries, another woman has a gunshot wound to her shoulder and a male police officer suffered a non-life threatening gunshot graze to his face.
The cafe had been searched and no explosives were found, police said.
