2014-12-15 Photo gallery

Armed police stand at the ready close to a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014. A hostage situation erupted inside a chocolate shop and cafe in Australia's largest city on Mond...

This image taken from video shows people holding up hands inside a cafe in Sydney, Australia Monday, Dec. 15, 2014. An apparent hostage situation was unfolding inside the chocolate shop and cafe in Australia's largest city on Monday, where several pe...

A police officer runs across Martin Place near Lindt cafe, where hostages are being held, in central Sydney December 15, 2014. Hostages were being held inside the central Sydney cafe where a black flag with white Arabic writing could be seen in the w...

A black flag with white Arabic writing is held up at the window of the Lindt cafe, where hostages are being held, in this still image taken from video from Australia's Seven Network on December 15, 2014. Dozens of hostages were trapped inside the cen...

Hands are pressed up against the window of the Lindt cafe, where hostages are being held, in this still image taken from video from Australia's Seven Network on December 15, 2014. Dozens of hostages were trapped inside the central Sydney cafe on Mond...

A hostage runs towards a police officer outside Lindt cafe, where other hostages are being held, in Martin Place in central Sydney December 15, 2014. Two more hostages have run out of the cafe at the center of a siege in Sydney, Australia

An armed tactical response police officer grabs a hostage as she runs to flee from a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014. New South Wales state police would not say what was ha...