Heavily armored police units have stormed Lindt Café and brought an end to a day-long hostage standoff in the heart of Sydney. Police said three people including gunman were killed, four more injured.
As a result of the police operation at Sydney’s Lindt Café, the gunman identified as Iranian-born Sheik Man Haron Monis was killed, New South Wales (NSW) police said.
Two hostages, a 34-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital, police added.
“Two women have been taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while a male police officer suffered a non-life threatening wound to his face from gunshot pellets and was taken to hospital,” the NSW police statement continued.
“Another woman has been taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to her shoulder. A 35-year-old woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.”
An exchange of gunfire inside the café prompted police to move in, police commissioner for the state of NSW, Andrew Scipione, told reporters.
All 17 hostages were accounted for, said Scipione, adding that no explosives were found.