An armed man took over the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in central Sydney, Australia, on Monday (local time), and is holding more than a dozen hostages, according to Reuters.
A black flag with white Arabic writing could be seen in the window of the cafe with the text, “There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is the messenger of God,” Australia’s ABC News tweeted.
Australia, which is backing the United States and its escalating action against the Islamic State (ISIS), is on high alert for attacks by radicalized Muslims or by home-grown fighters returning from fighting in the Middle East.
However, local commentator Mo Elleissy noted on Twitter that the flag in the cafe was not an ISIS flag.
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, the report said.
Live television footage showed an estimated 13 patrons inside a cafe standing with their hands pressed against the windows. A black and white flag similar to those used by ISIS terrorists in Iraq and Syria was also visible.
A Lindt Australia executive told Sky Business there were about 10 staff working at the cafe, and that there were “probably 30 customers” present.
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, according to Reuters.
“The police operation is underway, we’re urging people to avoid the area while it’s under way,” a police spokesman told the Australian website news.com.au.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in response to the attack, “This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner.”
“We will provide regular updates as further information becomes available,” said Abbott, who added that he would convene the National Security Committee of Cabinet for briefings on the situation.
ISIS terrorism has recently been on the rise in Australia, with police recently arresting 15 terror suspects of an ISIS cell that was planning to behead a random member of the public in a campaign of terror.
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