sydney attack

Sydney Attack like 26/11

The Hostage Crisis In Sydney From Beginning To End….

The gunman took control of the Lindt Café at about 9:30 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. Eastern time)

REUTERS/David Gray Police rapidly intervened and evacuated the area

Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images Every civilian in the area was asked to leave

Metcalfe/Getty Images Heavily armed officers from the special forces were on the spot, including snipers and anti-bomb military personnel

Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images Two female staff from the Lindt Café were among the first hostages who were able to flee

REUTERS/David Gray They were rescued by the police

REUTERS/David Gray Meanwhile the police had made contact with the gunman, and started to negotiate

REUTERS/David Gray The gunman was identified as Man Haron Monis, a Iranian who fled to Australia in 1996 and had a long criminal record

The remaining hostages were rescued during the action

REUTERS/David Gray Several were injured

REUTERS/David Gray It was later confirmed that three people, one of them the gunman, were killed in the action