Several hostages managed to leave captured in Sydney cafe – RBC

One of the hostages is running to the police from the captured cafe

Photo: AFP

Presumably five people were able to run out of the captured cafes in Sydney, said channel 7news. Police later confirmed this information. Two people from the number of visitors come through the main entrance, one person places his left through the fire escape. At the time of receipt of this information, it was unclear were released or freed them managed to escape. After some time, managed to leave the cafe captured two more people.

It was later learned that the police were able to establish contact with the Islamists, the taking of hostages in the tearoom Lindt in the city center. The Deputy Commissioner of Police of New South Wales Catherine Bern television channel CNN . Details of the talks is not known, of any demands by the hostage-taking is not reported.

Earlier, the New South Wales Police Force Andrew Skipione said that law enforcement agencies do not know the motives criminal action and its possible requirements. In this channel 7News reported that hostage-taking calls talks with the Prime Minister personally.

«We have not yet confirmed that this event can be considered an act of terrorism” – quoted by Skipione The Australian News .

Skipione also said that the police had received several reports of allegedly found in and around the city of explosive devices, but when checking none of them have not been confirmed . Police could not yet determine the exact number of hostages. The number of armed invaders also not yet established, it is known one-armed man. To the scene strapped Special Forces, also drove armored vehicles of the security forces.

On the morning of capture cafe authorities announced the arrest of a man suspected of involvement in the preparation of terrorist attacks Territory of Australia. The police said they did not see a connection between these events, nevertheless they scrutinize all incoming information.

The taking of hostages cafe Lindt at the mall Martin Place in Sydney took place on Monday, December 15 at 09:45 local time. According to local media, the captured cafes are between 15 and 50 people. Representative of the company Lindt said that at the time of capture in the building were 10 employees and 30 visitors. Capture, if there is one, ordered the hostages to stand at the window and held flags with inscriptions in Arabic. While there is no evidence whether the perpetrators belong to the radical organization “Islamic State”, also received information about possible victims.

After receiving the information about the capture of the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott immediately called the National Security Committee to discuss the situation. «We do not know whether the actions of criminals politically motivated. There are some signs that this is the case, “- he said in a televised address. The authorities had to evacuate people from a number of nearby buildings. In particular, were evacuated Sydney Opera House, the US Consulate, State Library of New South Wales and the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

The US State Department announced the evacuation of the consulate in Sydney, according to TV channel Fox News. In addition, the consulate issued a warning to citizens located in the United States, urging them to be vigilant and to be avoided if possible visit the city center, especially Martin Place, where there are cafes captured. Press secretary of the consulate informed agency Reuters, that the majority of employees are at home – in the workplace were a few people, she said.

Australia joined the US-led coalition formed to fight “Islamic state” and relocated 10 aircraft and about 600 people on the territory of the UAE as part of this operation. October 9 and vstraliyskie aircraft in a combat zone in the Middle East made their first sortie and attacked militant positions terrorist organization “Islamic state” in Iraq. According to the military, two bombs were launched from the aircraft F / A-18F Super Hornet on the subject LIH. All planes out of the zone of attack lossless and returned to base.

Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the authorities have approved the use of fighters against militants IG. According to him, Iraq will also be sent commandos. They will “advise and assist” the Iraqi army in its fight against the Islamist group.

In September, the Australian authorities have changed the level of terrorist threat with medium to high. In accordance with the four-alarm system, high level means the likelihood of a terrorist attack. He declared in the country for the first time. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott stressed at a press conference on Friday that the announcement of a high level of terrorist threat does not mean “the inevitability of a terrorist attack.” He added that the country is inhabited by people who are “intent and ability to commit a terrorist attack.”