Timeline: How Sydney siege unfolded

Here is a timeline of the unfolding developments in the Sydney cafe siege. The incident was reported at 9.45am local time (2245 GMT Sunday).
The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in SydneyThe scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney
The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney

All times are relevant to the local time zone, which is 11 hours ahead:

• 9.45am - Emergency services are called to the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Early reports suggest a possible siege with an unknown number of hostages in the building.

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• 10.09am - The first images are released, appearing to show the hostages inside the cafe with their hands in the air in surrender.

The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in SydneyThe scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney
The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney

• 10.15am - Two female hostages appear to hold a black Islamic flag containing Arabic writing against the cafe window.

• 10.24am - People in nearby buildings are evacuated.

• 11.18am - Initial reports from the scene suggest around a dozen customers were inside the cafe in the moments before the siege took hold - with one man believed to be the hostage-taker.

• 11.43am - A man claiming to be the hostage-taker calls Sydney radio station 2GB saying there are other devices planted around the city. Later, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione confirms the caller was a hostage.

The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in SydneyThe scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney
The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney
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• 11.49am - Reports from the scene say a police tactical assault team has entered the building with gas masks and shotguns.

• 11.59am - The first images of the suspected hostage-taker emerge - he is believed to be armed.

• 12.37pm - Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott holds a press conference saying he is not sure if the siege is politically motivated and urges Australians to go about their business as usual. He adds: “I can think of almost nothing more distressing or terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation, and our hearts go out to those people.”

• 1.33pm - Updated reports suggest the number of hostages is actually far higher than first suspected - with up to 40 or 50 people now believed to be locked inside.

The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in SydneyThe scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney
The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney
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• 1.53pm - American President Barack Obama is briefed about the siege as rumours surface that the incident may involve an improvised explosive device.

• 2pm - Police say they are still unsure of the gunman’s motivation. They confirm there is one armed offender holding “an undisclosed number of hostages” but say detectives are yet to establish direct contact with the gunman.

• 3.37pm - A breakthrough for police, as three hostages are released from the cafe.

• 4.07pm - NSW deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn says there is nothing to indicate the hostages have been physically harmed. She says: “We now have numerous police working on who this person is and what those motivations might be.” She adds that the number of hostages is believed to be less than 30.

The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in SydneyThe scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney
The scene at the cafe under siege at Martin Place in Sydney
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• 4.59am - Two further hostages - both female members of staff - are released, bringing the total to five.

• 6.11pm - PM Mr Abbott makes another statement regarding the siege after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet’s National Security Committee. He says: “It is profoundly shocking that innocent people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation.”

• 7.12pm - His UK counterpart, David Cameron, tweets: “I was briefed overnight on the siege in Sydney. It’s deeply concerning and my thoughts are with all those caught up in it.”

• 7.45pm - The hostage suspect is “known” to Australian police and media, according to reports, but police have asked for his identity not to be broadcast.

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