Sydney Hostage Situation: Live Updates
Hostages are being held inside a chocolate shop in Sydney, Australia.
3rd & 7 37yd
3rd & 7 37yd
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Scipione: "We won’t get into the details about who is in there, how many are in there.” He also won’t say whether the five hostages were released or managed to escape.
He won’t discuss a possible motive.
“We’re not in the business of speculating, we’re in the business of investigating,” he said. -
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Ray Hadley, a host on 2GB radio, says he received calls from a hostage while inside the café.
“He was obviously agitated. He was a young man… scared and I could hear the hostage taker in the back ground issuing instructions to him on what to request me to say on air.”
Hadley said he spoke to one hostage four times before the police negotiators took over.
“He phoned the open line but I thought it was prudent not to put him to air, so I spoke to him off air,” he said. “I was aware of the situation and did not want to put anyone at risk.” -
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More information about the U.S. Consulate statement: The U.S. Consulate in Australia has issued a warning for American citizens in Sydney in light of the hostage situation, which they refer to as a "security incident."
The Embassy released a statement saying that the U.S. Consulate General has been evacuated but a "small group" of staffers are working from a remote location and all employees have been accounted for.
"We are closely following the security incident in Sydney. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who are being held hostage," the statement reads.
"As Australia law enforcement officials are addressing the threat, we have advised U.S. citizens and others avoid the area around Martin Place until further notice," the statement said. -
Public urged to go about its business as usual - Martin Place siege police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_re… http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B45UlZjCYAAvUv9.jpg
by NSW Police via twitter 12/15/2014 12:27:58 PM -
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A dramatic 32-second video shows armed police throwing what appears to be stun grenades, plus loud shooting and flashes of lights.
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Meanwhile Uber is backtracking on price hikes in place as people were fleeing Sydney. The San Francisco-based car- company is promising free rides and refunds for those people. The company was quickly criticized in a social media storm for hiking prices during the hostage crisis. Read more about that story.
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Watch ABC News' Special Report live stream coverage of the events in Sydney.
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Here's a summary of what we know now that the hostage crisis is over: Sydney Hostage Crisis Over After Police Storm Cafe With Stun Grenades. Check back for updates.
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During the hostage crisis, an Australian radio host took calls from some hostages. "I could hear the hostage-taker in the background issuing instructions to him on what to request me to say on air,” Ray Hadley told ABC News. Hadley was hosting his radio show on Australia’s 2GB station when he says a hostage called in on his show’s open line. Hadley did not put the hostage on-air live -- worried about the risks -- but says he spoke to the hostage in four conversations before police negotiators took over.
More from that ABC News story here. -
Watch ABC News' special report with video of the standoff just as police entered the building (5 minutes, 28 seconds)
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The U.S. Consulate Sydney is advising U.S. citizens and others to avoid the area around Martin Place until further notice, informing U.S. citizens that the Consulate will be closed to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 16. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki says U.S. citizens in Sydney are "strongly encouraged to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings, and monitor local news stations for updates." But no travel warning has been issued for Australia.
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Thanks for following our live blog. Check ABCNews.com for continuing coverage in Sydney.