A siege on a cafe in downtown Sydney, Australia ended after police stormed the building early Tuesday local time. The gunman who held hostages there and one other person are reportedly dead.
Gunfire and a loud explosion were heard as some hostages being held in the cafe fled the scene.
BREAKING: Police storm Sydney siege cafe, heavy gunfire heard: Reuters witness and live TV pictures
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) December 15, 2014
BREAKING: Several more hostages flee from Sydney cafe after loud bang is heard.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 15, 2014
New South Wales police confirmed that the siege had ended but did not comment on the number of injuries or casualties resulting from the raid on the Lindt Cafe.
Sky News reported that two people were killed in the police raid, including the gunman.
CNN’s Australian affiliate 7News also reported that a hostage and the gunman were killed, while three other people were seriously wounded.
This post has been updated.