Twitchy is reporting on the ongoing hostage situation in the Martin Place sector of Sydney, Australia where a gunmen has reportedly taken up to 13 people hostage at a Lindt Coffee cafe.
Prime Minister John Abbot has just issued the following statement:
Statement from Prime Minister Tony Abbott on hostage situation in Sydney, Australia http://t.co/KXvyYpaQ0N pic.twitter.com/L7S08R3ilq
— Anthony DeRosa? (@Anthony) December 15, 2014
There are multiple reports that the hostage taker is demanding to speak to Abbott:
BREAKING: Gunman inside the LINDT Cafe in MARTIN PLACE reportedly making demands to speak with PM TONY ABBOTT #KIISnews @krista_thomas
— KIIS 1065 (@KIIS1065) December 15, 2014
Demands have been made by gunman inside Lindt Cafe to speak with Prime Minister Tony Abbott #MartinPlaceSiege #sydney
— Ellie Petricevic (@elliepetric) December 15, 2014
https://twitter.com/RadioTodayExtra/status/544289239936937984
The terrorists holding hostages in Sydney are demanding to talk to PM Tony Abbott live on radio. I hope they won't have their demands met.
— Donal O Mahony (@irishdon) December 15, 2014
And there are reports that this image is the hostage taker:
https://twitter.com/RealAliciaMayer/status/544290614901088256
https://twitter.com/Sam15786/status/544292148104142848
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Update 8:14:
The Prime Minister will hold a Press Conference at 12:30pm #sydneysiege
— ABC Sydney (@abcsydney) December 15, 2014
PM Tony Abbott will hold a press conference at 12.30pm about the #sydneysiege http://t.co/7NdqPYhwcY
— ABC News (@abcnews) December 15, 2014
Update 8:44:
Australia: US Consulate in Sydney evacuated
— IntelCenter (@IntelCenter1) December 15, 2014
BREAKING UPDATE: US Consulate in Sydney has been evacuated and US Citizens there being warned to be on high alert. Reuters
— Breaking News Feed (@pzf) December 15, 2014
The US has evacuated the consulate in Sydney & has issued a warning to American citizens in Sydney. #sydneysiege @SkyNews
— Jennifer Bossypants (@ajenable) December 15, 2014
US consulate in Sydney evacuated, has issued a warning for Americans in Australia via Sky News
— Matt Novak (@paleofuture) December 15, 2014
US evacuated Consulate in Sydney after #sydneysiege. Emergency warning to U.S. citizens urging them to "maintain high level of vigilance".
— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) December 15, 2014
Update 9:06:
Emergency message for US citizens re: situation in #MartinPlace in #Sydney, posted on the consulate Facebook page: pic.twitter.com/hq5Z3qAA5E
— David Daniel (@CNNLADavid) December 15, 2014
Update 9;18:
A transcript of the Prime Minister's press conference on #SydneySiege #MartinPlaceSiege pic.twitter.com/g2OahppeAy
— Alex Taylor (@Tayloredword) December 15, 2014
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets and the title has been changed to reflect breaking news.
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