- Sydney barrister Katrina Dawson confirmed as 38-year-old woman killed during siege
- Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson killed in Martin Place siege
- Day one of the Martin Place siege: how it unfolded
- Workers kept in the dark while awaiting evacuation
- Martin Place Siege: world reacts with #illridewithyou
- The world watches on
- A reporter's encounter with Man Haron Monis
- Leave your tribute to the victims of the Martin Place siege on our message wall.
The siege at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place came to a dramatic end just after 2am on Tuesday. This is how it unfolded:
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At 2.03am, seven hostages were seen running from the cafe out onto the street.
Seconds later, heavily armed police were shown on live television storming into the cafe. NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the officers were responding to gunfire inside the building.
Three people are dead. Two of those killed are hostages: a man, 34, and a woman, 38.
The lone gunman, Man Haron Monis, was also shot dead.
A total of 17 hostages had been held during the 16-hour ordeal.
A number of hostages, some with injuries, were taken by ambulance to Royal North Shore and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals.
PAY TRIBUTE:
You can leave a tribute to the victims of the Martin Place siege on our message wall here.
ROLLING COVERAGE:
6.20pm: Mr Abbott has been taken to task for the fact Monis, despite being known to Australian Federal Police and ASIO, was not on a terror watch list before he attacked the Lindt café on Monday.
"That's a very fair question, and obviously once the initial shock has passed that's precisely the kind of question that members of the public are entitled to ask. If I can be candid with you, that is the question that we were asking ourselves around the national security committee of the Cabinet today.
"How can someone who has had such a long and checkered history, not be on the appropriate watch lists and how can someone like that be entirely at large in the community. These are questions that we need to look at carefully and calmly and methodically, to learn the right lessons, and to act upon them.
"We are always looking at what can be done better. We are always looking at what lessons can be learnt and how things can be improved."
Read what else he had to say here.
5.50pm: Tori Johnson, 34, was the Lindt Cafe manager, a role he had held for years.
During his time leading the deluxe chocolate cafe, he touched the lives of two children from Wollongong who had issues eating chocolate because of health issues.
"It's definitely something that stuck out in his mind as being one of his best days," Mercedez Hinchcliff said about her six-year-old son Henry.
Read more about Mr Johnson's generosity here.
5:21pm: PM Tony Abbott has said he doesn't believe the perpetrator, Man Haron Morris, was on a terror watch list at the time of the incident.
"The interesting feature of this incident brush with terrorism is that the individual concerned is obviously, was obviously a deeply disturbed person," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.
"I can't imagine that any same person would want to emulate someone who has a long history of violence, including violence against loved ones, a long history of sexual assault, a long an incredibly erratic history of infatuation with extremism. There is nothing consistent about this individual's life, except that he was consistently weird."
"I'm sure it made an impact yesterday, but the message that we take as Australians and I think the message the world gets from the way we've responded, that Australians are a very capable and resilient people."
5.09pm: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has held press conference with NSW Premier Mike Baird.
"I do want to thank and congratulate the NSW police for their professionalism they've shown at all time," Mr Abbott said.
"Everyone has been impressed by the speed of the NSW response, the thoroughness of the preparation they made and the professionalism of the action they took once it became obvious those people inside the cage were being taken out by the deluded and sick individual. Every Sydneysider can feel quietly proud about how their city has handled these events.
Decent innocent people got caught up in the sick fantasy of a deeply disturbed individual."
NSW Premier Mike Baird has praised the NSW Police and the people of Sydney for how they have dealt with the horror of the siege.
"I certainly want to start by saying as you start to see the stories unfold of the victims whose live have been lost, its heart for our hearts not to become heavier," Mr Baird said.
"Young Australians with huge futures going about their daily lives, there is nothing sadder."
Mr Baird said he had no idea how the families of the victims would cope, but to know the whole city was behind them.
"Often, when there is despair, there is also hope and a positive spirit that we are seeing. I want to say thanks to the NSW police, what we've seen in the last 24 hours is incredible.
"Thanks to this city. This city is amazing, our people are incredible and what we are seeing in martin place right now, it's the beating heart of the city being put in place. That's what the flowers mean to me, it shows me this city is alive.
"Look at the hope. Look at what we can do when we come together and feed on it, because my strong sense is we will come out of this stronger."
4.45pm: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has tweeted a photo of the floral tribute and note he left at Martin Place.
The note reads "This is a very sad day. All Australia is with the dead and the hurt. Tony Abbott."
4.30pm: Support has been pouring in from all over the world, with the Sydney siege trending in countries including the United Kingdom and India.
Australian actors Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe have tweeted their support.
3.45pm: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has arrived at Martin Place to lay flowers among the many floral tributes adorning the fountains, footpaths and walls of the central Sydney boulevard.
He left Canberra shortly before 2pm and arrived with his wife Margie at about 3.30pm.
SMH's Melanie Kembrey reports the pair left a bouquet each and a note while visiting a makeshift memorial in Martin Place, before signing the condolence books set up on a trestle table at the side of the shrine.
3:30pm: Police are searching a home in Belmore in relation to the siege
NSW Police say they have executed a search warrant at a house in Belmore in relation to the Martin Place siege.
Police are yet to reveal publicly who lives at the property, but Fairfax Media understands it is the home of Man Monis' partner, Amirah Droudis.
Ms Droudis is currently on bail charged with the murder of Monis's ex-wife, Noleen Hayon Pal. Monis had been charged as an accessory to that crime.
More details to follow.
3.05pm: The United States' Ambassador to Australia, John Berry, has just issued the following statement.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the innocent victims and their families and those wounded in today's tragic events. All of us here at the U.S. Mission grieve with Australia and stand in solidarity with the people of Sydney.
I would like to extend my deepest personal sympathies to the families of Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson, and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. I especially recognize the outstanding bravery and professionalism of the law enforcement personnel who immediately responded and patiently managed this high pressure situation under the most difficult circumstances, always seeking to protect innocent lives.
Australia is a rich, multi-cultural, dynamic country that deeply cherishes freedom. Sydney embodies that wonderful spirit and shares it freely with the world by welcoming millions of visitors every year.
That friendliness is brightly on display in the social media campaign #Illridewithyou and in the countless helping hands and hearts reaching out everyday.
In this holiday season that celebrates harmony, let us find solace in those ties that bind us together and make us stronger. Let us overcome the darkness of those who choose hate and violence with hearts filled with the bright shining lights of this season of peace and love.
#USwithAUS"
2.45pm: There is a queue to lay flowers down at Martin Place and there is also a long line to buy them at the nearby florist.
2.25pm: The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed the gunman behind the siege, Man Haron Monis, "slipped through the cracks" of NSW's bail system by just six days.
Monis had been released on bail in May after being charged with more than 40 counts of sexual assault.
NSW Attorney-General Brad Hazzard said today that stricter bail laws would be implemented at the end of January in 2015, and it was unlikely that Monis would have been released on bail had those rules been in place.
"This government changed the Bail Act to ensure greater safety for our community. It was changed to ensure that offenders involved in serious crime will not get bail," he said.
A change.org petition has been launched calling on NSW Mike Baird to toughen bail laws following the incident and had more than 40,000 signatures by mid afternoon on Tuesday.
2.01pm: There are emotional scenes at Martin Place in Sydney where a makeshift memorial has been set up for the two hostages killed in the siege.
The manager of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe Tori Johnson, 34, of Redfern, died in hospital after being shot inside the cafe that he had run for two years.
Mr Johnson's parents released a statement via journalist Ben Fordham, saying: "We are so proud of our beautiful boy Tori, gone from this earth but forever in our memories as the most amazing life partner, son and brother we could ever wish for.
Sydney barrister and mother of three Katrina Dawson was the other hostage who was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital following the siege.
Ms Dawson, a highly respected barrister from Eighth Floor Selborne chambers in Phillip Street, was the younger sister of prominent defamation barrister Sandy Dawson and McKinsey & Company director Angus Dawson.
She was married to Paul Smith, a partner at top tier law firm King & Wood Mallesons, and had three children aged under ten - two girls and a boy.
Sydney Morning Herald reporter Melanie Kembrey said dozens of people are queuing to leave flowers and sign a condolence book for Mr Johnson and Ms Dawson.
There is almost complete silence around the shrine, with tears streaming from the faces of those watching and waiting.
Police have also had to push the crowds back to make more room for the increasing numbers of flowers.
Cathy Butera drove about an hour from her home in Austral to leave two bunches.
"One act of evil from one person has now created a chain reaction with thousands of acts of kindness from people all over the world," she said.
This story has touched people across the country, with flags as far away as Esperance in Western Australia lowered to half mast as a sign of respect.
12.10pm: It was the night of September 19 this year, and the anti-terrorism squad had just carried out a series of raids on a dozen homes in south-western Sydney.
Sydney Morning Herald journalist Anne Davies had been sent out to to report on the mood in Lakemba, where a rally had been organised by the Muslim organisation Hizb ut Tahrir.
One man introduced himself to Davies as Sheik Haron - the man who this week took 17 people hostage in a Martin Place cafe, before he was shot dead. More here
11.56am: The NSW Supreme Court has cancelled all matters being heard in the Queens Square and King Street buildings, reports Louise Hall.
The trial listed at Darlinghurst will continue and bail applications will be heard at Darlinghurst.
11.36am: Two of the hostages being held at gunpoint in a Martin Place cafe overnight were pregnant, police have revealed.
Another hostage was a 75-year-old woman who was shot in the shoulder.
All women were in a stable condition in hospital on Tuesday, police said.
This is the latest information we have about the injured hostages:
- A 75-year-old woman was shot in the shoulder. She is in a stable condition.
- A 52-year-old woman was shot in the foot. She is in a stable condition.
- A 43-year-old woman was shot in the leg. She is in a stable condition.
- A 39-year-old man received a minor facial injury due to gunshot. He was treated at hospital and has been discharged.
- A 35-year-old pregnant woman was being assessed at hospital. She is in a stable condition.
- A 30-year-old pregnant woman was assessed in hospital. She is in a stable condition.
11.18am: Deputy Commissioner Burn said she had spoken to the police officer who was injured in the Sydney siege.
That officer is believed to have suffered pellet wounds in the raid on the cafe just after 2am on Tuesday. He has since been released from hospital.
"I've spoken to him this morning," Deputy Commissioner Burn said.
"He was on his way home actually, and he was a little bit shaken. His only words to me were 'I'll be back at work tomorrow'."
11.17am: Deputy Commissioner Burn said a critical incident investigation was under way. That investigation would be led by Homicide Squad detectives, on behalf of the coroner.
She said that investigation would take place over the next week, and "possibly months".
"It's extremely important that I do not say a great deal about the events of the past 24 hours [while that investigation takes place]," she said
She said she could not talk about the actions of individuals involved, including reports that Lindt manager tried to wrestle the weapon from the gunman.
But she said: "Can I just say I think every single one of those hostages acted courageously".
11.14am: Some more details from that update with Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn.
She said of the six people taken to hospital with injuries, three were women who had suffered gunshot wounds. They were all in hospital in a stable condition.
One male police officer had been discharged from hospital, while two other women had been treated for "health and welfare purposes", she said.
11.09am: Just in ... NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn has revealed six people were injured.
She has urged the people of Sydney to carry on with their lives as usual.
11am: The president of the NSW Bar Association, Jane Needham, SC, has released a statement, saying it was "with a heavy heart and deep sorrow" that she informed members of the bar that Katrina Dawson, 38, had passed away in the early hours of the morning.
"Katrina, together with two other members of the NSW Bar, were held as hostages during the incident at the Lindt Cafe in Phillip Street, Sydney, yesterday," Ms Needham said.
10.37am: Glebe cyclist Eve Burchfield has left a bunch of hand-picked flowers in Martin Place with a note that says: "I'll ride with you".
The #illridewithyou hashtag amassed more than 120,000 tweets as Australians took a stand against anti-Muslim sentiment in the wake of the siege, reports Emma Partridge.
Ms Burchfield, who was in New York on September 11, said it was beautiful that such a strong message of love had come out of such a tragic event.
"It's horrifying but it is just really beautiful to see the city come together like a big family," Ms Burchfield said.
'I was in New York for September 11 and these horrible situations just bring out the best in people and it just beautiful," she said.
10.31am: NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn will provide an update about the ongoing police operation at 11am today.
10.15am: Anthony Fisher, the Archbishop of Sydney, has invited Sydneysiders to attend a mass today for the victims of the Sydney siege.
The mass will be held at 1.10pm at St Mary's Cathedral, about 500 metres from the Lindt Chocolat Cafe where the hostages were held.
"Please join us in prayer as we stand in solidarity with people of all faiths in our blessed country of Australia," the Archbishop said in a statement.
10.05am: The family of Noleen Hayson Pal, the slain ex-wife of the Sydney siege gunman, have expressed their anger that he was not behind bars, writes Melanie Kembrey.
Man Haron Monis, 50, who was shot dead by police in the early hours of Tuesday morning,was on bail after being charged with being an accessory before and after the fact to the 2013 murder of Pal.
Pal's brother Talat Khalik, who lives in California, posted a series of furious comments about Monis on Facebook.
9.55am: NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he was "not far from" tears when he visited a make-shift shrine at Martin Place on Tuesday morning, reports Emma Partridge.
"It's incredibly sad, I've got to say I don't think I could be sadder," Mr Scipione said.
"Having said that, I'm completely proud of our police and what they have done to keep us safe, I've got nothing but praise for them."
Mr Scipione said he wanted to see the flowers people had left as a tribute to the siege victims.
"I've come to have a look at what Sydney's done," he said.
9.39am: The 34-year-old man killed in the Martin Place siege was Tori Johnson, the manager of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe, reports Nick Ralston.
Johnson had worked at the cafe for more than two years, and had worked in a host of restaurants in Sydney and the US.
9.26am: Flags on all Commonwealth and NSW Government buildings will be flown at half-mast on Tuesday in honour of the victims of Sydney siege, reports Latika Bourke.
9.22am: Sydney barrister Katrina Dawson has been confirmed as the 38-year-old woman who was tragically killed during the siege at the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place, reports Michaela Whitbourn.
The mother of three and rising star at the commercial bar was one of two hostages who were pronounced dead in hospital after an exchange of gunfire just after 2am on Tuesday.
Ms Dawson, a highly respected barrister from Eighth Floor Selborne chambers in Phillip Street, is the younger sister of prominent defamation barrister Sandy Dawson and McKinsey & Company director Angus Dawson.
9.12am: Westpac has confirmed that four of its employees were among the 17 hostages being held in Sydney's Martin Place.
All four are safe. One is undergoing medical treatment for what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
8.34am: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has just emerged from a meeting of cabinet's National Security Committee and is delivering a statement to the press at Parliament House in Canberra, reports Bevan Shields.
8.20am: Lindt Australia posted a message on its Facebook page on Tuesday morning, saying the company was "profoundly saddened and deeply affected about the death of innocent people".
8.15am: Governor-General Peter Cosgrove has released this statement following the end of the Martin Place siege:
"Australians everywhere are shocked by the events that have unfolded in Martin Place, Sydney over the past 24 hours.
"We are deeply saddened to learn about the loss of innocent lives.
"To the families and loved ones, our thoughts and prayers are with you during your unimaginable grief.
"For those injured, we are willing you to recover, and for all those caught up, we stand with you.
"I want to commend the work of the police and emergency responders, who worked tirelessly to bring this incident to a peaceful conclusion and responded so quickly when that proved not possible.
"Now is a time for coming together. We must unite in our resolve to protect what we value most - our way of life, our care and respect for each other.
"Now is a time for unity, as Australians."
7.11am: Four cars left the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital at about 6.45am on Tuesday, reports Daisy Dumas.
It is not known whether they held hostages, but they are believed to have been driven by relatives of those caught up in the siege.
The second car to have left RPA at that time was carrying a passenger with a jacket over her head.
There is a heavy police presence at RPA, though little is known about the identity and number of hostages remaining in the Camperdown hospital.
Police have confirmed the deaths of three people, including the hostage-taker, a 50-year-old male. A woman, 38, and a man, 34, were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital after an exchange of gunfire just after 2am.
Two women were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries, a police officer was taken to hospital with a wound from gunshot pellets and another woman was admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to her shoulder.
Another woman, aged 35, was taken to hospital as a precaution.
7.03am: Opposition leader Bill Shorten has released a statement, saying the deaths of two innocent hostages "breaks our hearts".
"Our thoughts and prayers are with their families," he said.
"We also keep in our thoughts the wounded and other hostages, and their families. Their ordeal is not over.
"We owe our full gratitude to our police and security agencies for their bravery, service and sacrifice. Their skill and professionalism has saved lives.
"The Opposition continues to offer the Government its full support during this difficult time. The Prime Minister and I are partners when it comes to keeping Australians safe.
"Today, all of Australia stands with Sydney."
6.10am: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has paid tribute to the families of the two deceased hostages, the injured and other hostages.
"Australians awoke to the news this morning that the siege in Martin Place has ended. I commend the courage and professionalism of the New South Wales Police and other emergency services involved.
"Early this morning I was briefed on developments by New South Wales Premier Mike Baird and New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, as well as Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin.
"Commonwealth agencies will continue to provide every support to New South Wales authorities. The National Security Committee of Cabinet will meet shortly to review the situation."
5.52am: NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione confirmed that 17 hostages were held inside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place.
Two of those hostages were killed. They are a man, aged 34, and a woman, aged 38.
The "lone gunman" was shot dead, Mr Scipione said. He has been identified as Man Haron Monis.
Six of the hostages escaped uninjured.
A male police officer was shot in the face, but is expected to recover. The injured hostages were taken to hospital with a range of injuries.
5:47am:
NSW Premier Mike Baird was speaking with "the heaviest of hearts" on Tuesday morning, he said.
"Unbelievably overnight we have lost some of our own in an attack we never thought we would see here in our city," Mr Baird said.
"In the past 24 hours this city has been shaken by a tragedy that none of us could have ever imagined.
"Today we must come together as never before. We are stronger together. We will get through this. We will get through this.
"The events that we have seen have shaken us, but they do not dampen our resolve."
4:22am: A number of hostages are still being treated at Martin Place while the most seriously injured have been taken to hospital, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said.
"We are treating a number of patients and it is still very active in the city at the moment," the spokeswoman said.
"We are treating and transporting patients to inner city hospitals as required," she said.
There are more than 14 specialist and general paramedic crews in the CBD.
3:55am: SMH crime reporter Emma Partridge has been outside the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital at Camperdown.
She reports: One woman, believed to be a hostage was seen being wheeled into RPA on a stretcher just after 3.30am.
Four ambulances were parked in the emergency department bays.
Meanwhile, Sky News producer Sami Clare reports from Royal North Shore Hospital:
3:43am:
Fairfax Media has been told that two people are dead, one of whom is the gunman, Man Haron Monis.
3:31am: SMH crime reporter Emma Partridge has been told at least one patient has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital and another to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
3:13am: Multiple hostages have been taken away by emergency services
Ambulance crews have entered the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place after the police confronted the gunman.
2.56am: Channel 7 reporter Chris Reason reports:
2:48am: More from the SMH's James Robertson, on Martin Place:
"Hostages came out in two groups. The first, a group of about five, with their hands up. That was after initial gunshots were fired. Then, witnesses say, after the volley, another group of roughly five."
2.48am: SMH reporter James Robertson, at the bottom of Martin Place about 150 metres from the scene: "The exchange was started by three discrete bangs. The first brought about five people from the building. A space followed between the subsequent two and then a near-continuous volley rang out. Dozens of shots."
2:18am: More gun shots are now being fired, a couple of minutes after the first volley.
Additional hostages appear to have been moving from the cafe.
2.15am: Multiple hostages have emerged from the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Martin Place
It is still being confirmed whether the freed hostages have been released as a result of police negotiation with the suspected gunmanm, Man Haron Monis, or have escaped themselves.
