An armed siege in Sydney’s central financial district came to a violent conclusion in the early hours of Tuesday morning amid explosions and an intense burst of gunfire.
Police have confirmed that three people were killed. One was the gunman and the other two were hostages, a man aged 34, reported to be the cafe manager Tori Johnson, and a woman aged 38.
A further four people were said to have been seriously injured. No explosives were found in the cafe.
Self-styled Islamist cleric Man Haron Monis, 49, held hostage a total of 17 staff and customers of the Lindt Chocolat Café hostage for more than 16 hours after walking in with a pump-action shotgun during the morning rush hour.
He told police he had