Two gunmen, dozen hostages inside Lindt cafe in Sydney, Australia. Islamic flags remain on display. Updates!

JUST IN: Two gunmen, dozen hostages inside cafe in Sydney, Australia. ISIS flags remain on display. - @KristyMayr7 pic.twitter.com/p4GyCRobSa
— G.Alexander(BRKNEWS) (@MajorNews911) December 14, 2014

Two gunmen, dozen hostages inside Lindt cafe in Sydney, Australia. Islamic flags remain on display.


 
AAP is filing footage from Martin Place where police have been evacuating buildings and moving people away from the siege.

RT @ArmedResearch: IMAGE: Close-up of hostage taker using woman as human shield. #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/T27TqbZjsZ

— Oren Kessler (@OrenKessler) December 15, 2014

Unconfirmed: Flag flown in #Sydney appears to be associated with Hizb ut-Tahrir which is a pan Islamist movement w/ branches in many nations

— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

Commissioner Scipione speaks of only a single hostage taker in press conference. #SydneySiege

— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 15, 2014

Commr. Scipione @nswpolice: "My advice is we haven't had contact with the armed offender at this stage." #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/ibHn4J8EFA

— Silver Surfer (@RobPulseNews) December 15, 2014

@rConflictNews http://t.co/uf4LRP1e7C
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 15, 2014

2GB radio say they are refusing to allow the hostages or hostage takers go live on radio.
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

Hmmm.....Guess what?

British #ISIS Member Posts Instructions For DIY Cellphone Detonator, Threatens British Public http://t.co/v6hHV5L8FB http://t.co/NTsuHJDg4X
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) December 15, 2014

.@rayhadley2gb says that he did not take call from hostage taker inside cafe live. Took it off air. Encourages man to release hostages.
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 15, 2014

2GB radio say they are refusing to allow the hostages or hostage takers go live on radio.
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

Associate of terror tweeter @Marwan_Tunsi, @ISnews22, calls 4 murder of #sydneysiege hostages #ArrestMarwanTunsi pic.twitter.com/TDSAaUUJAz

— WTF-Ette (@flr666) December 15, 2014

UPDATE: Reports at least 10 staff and as many as 30 customers are currently inside #MartinPlace #siege v @9NewsSyd pic.twitter.com/QPmWYNKvzW
— Silver Surfer (@RobPulseNews) December 15, 2014

Flag in #Sydney cafe window confirmed to be that of Jabhat Al-Nusra, says Islamic terror expert on 7News v @PzFeed pic.twitter.com/s8cnf7suU9
— Silver Surfer (@RobPulseNews) December 15, 2014

UPDATE: Gunman asking to talk to Aussie PM on radio. v @th3j35t3r @20committee @PzFeed
— Silver Surfer (@RobPulseNews) December 15, 2014

IMAGE: Close-up of the man inside Lindt cafe holding hostages. #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/0nYHw8lACi
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 15, 2014

@ArmedResearch It means At your service O Muhammed.
— Flea1862 (@Flea1337) December 15, 2014

From @guardian: Woman saw a man carrying sports bag with gun inside. She told police who approached him. He then entered cafe. #sydneysiege
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 15, 2014

The Sydney cafe siege may be part of a larger plot. @Y7News #MartinPlaceSiege http://t.co/YXs0FUGX4m pic.twitter.com/6sKVEJQ9Li
— 7News Yahoo!7 (@Y7News) December 15, 2014

Terror raids last September 19: details included possible target "Martin Place" Note threats. http://t.co/nfM43XwOXI pic.twitter.com/AZ4E25bdKi
— John Batchelor (@batchelorshow) December 15, 2014

BREAKING: Gunman says four devices are located around Sydney. Security response underway. Police calling for calm @20committee v @PzFeed
— Silver Surfer (@RobPulseNews) December 15, 2014

BREAKING: Lindt CEO says FIFTY hostages held inside Lindt cafe, #Sydney, report @BBCWorld @20committee
— Silver Surfer (@RobPulseNews) December 15, 2014

CEO of Lindt AustraliaSteve loane being quoted in local media saying between 40-50 hostages in cafe. Unconfirmed.
— Jon Donnison (@JonDonnison) December 15, 2014

Lindt #Australia CEO says probably about 10 staff, 30 customers in #Sydney cafe at time of siege. #sydneysiege via @SkyNewsAust
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 15, 2014

Headband of hostage taker says "Ya Muhammad" (يا محمد). At least that is all that can be made out in angle of photo. #sydneysiege
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 15, 2014

Live stream: @CBSNLive from #sydneysiege http://t.co/9Q9sHzpaxe @PzFeed
— Silver Surfer (@RobPulseNews) December 15, 2014

Breaking: Lindt boss confirms that there are 50 hostages inside the cafe. #sydneysiege http://t.co/fptAK8r5He
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

BREAKING: Purportedly a photo of the gunman leading the terrorist siege at Lindt cafe, #Sydney right now v @bendepear pic.twitter.com/usKBt7vc8A
— Silver Surfer (@RobPulseNews) December 15, 2014

This is an alleged image of the ringleader in the hostage situation in #Sydney live updates: http://t.co/AwpnSkbxWM pic.twitter.com/LVDVuPMKR4
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

If the black flag seems familiar,it's because it was also flying during Gaza protests in Sydney that went unnoticed. pic.twitter.com/DE8zWJ9mHX
— Martydownunder (@martydownunder) December 15, 2014

Reports that there are several attackers in cafe, 1 with Islamic headband appears to be ordering others around Live: http://t.co/fptAK8r5He
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

MFS: Does not look like an ISIS Headband 

The flag in the Lindt shop is not an ISIS flag but a Jabat Al-Nusra Front flag. Not that it matters. pic.twitter.com/r3eap2Wr9z
— Bill (@DefendWallSt) December 15, 2014

The flag seen in current pictures is not the primary ISIS flag, it is one often used by militants including AQ. @omarali50 @FridhKleberg
— J.M. Berger (@intelwire) December 15, 2014

BREAKING: Hostages under armed-hold up remain pressed against windows in Sydney, Australia cafe. - @KristyMayr7 pic.twitter.com/f8n1Kcj1ia
— G.Alexander(BRKNEWS) (@MajorNews911) December 14, 2014

Unconfirmed: A 'suspicious' member of the public has entered the Sydney eye hospital and is now 'missing' Live: http://t.co/fptAK8r5He
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

Not technically IS flag but Shahadah flag with Islamic creed on it. Commonly used by militants: pic.twitter.com/HbMmoX10oC v @CaliphateCop
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 14, 2014

Jihadists apparently conducting siege @ coffee shop in centre of Sydney. #auspol @ThisOngoingWar @MsIntervention pic.twitter.com/1bVixMqiOq
— Michael Danby MP (@MichaelDanbyMP) December 14, 2014

Police say up to 20 hostages could be in #Sydney cafe taken over by gunmen.
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 14, 2014

Breaking: There are a total of 13 hostages in the cafe in #Sydney.
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 14, 2014

Police at the cafe in siege. Airspace over Sydney closed . @RomyCayabyab @angkalatas @maria_ressa pic.twitter.com/UBb58Qajn1
— Violi Calvert (@VioliCalvert) December 15, 2014

7NEWS Live feed from #Sydney #martinplace Muslims Take Hostages in cafe http://t.co/p8utdD7VLi via @Yahoo7
— Blazing CatFur (@Blazingcatfur) December 15, 2014

Police "came out running like a madman": witness

This is from James Robertson, our reporter in the CBD: "It was about 10 past 10 they [police] came out running like a madman and said close the shop! Get out!" said Akan Beyzade who owns a kiosk in Martin Place not far from the siege. 

Ray Hadley, a presenter at 2GB radio station, is saying a hostage taker wants to talk to the prime minister, Tony Abbott, live on air.

Related?

Man arrested in suspected Sydney terror raid: reports http://t.co/umih8wGVyi via @terrorism_info
— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) December 14, 2014

Hostage situation in Martin Place #Sydney may be related to an anti terrorism arrest earlier this morning Live: http://t.co/fptAK8r5He
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

#Breaking: Unconfirmed reports that the gunman in #Sydney has a 'backpack and vest' Live: http://t.co/fptAK8r5He
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 15, 2014

Sidney opera house evacuated - After suspicious packages was found - according to Reuters
— Isabelle Daniel (@isabelledaniel) December 15, 2014

Hmmm....Next the MSM will tell us it has NOTHING to do with Islam. The hostages only hold the Islamic flag as 'Christmas Decoration'

Update:  Live blog at Guardian here.

Update: Airspace over Sydney has been shut down. Live coverage