PHOTOS: Chaotic Scenes as Sydney Hostage Crisis Unfolds

APTOPIX Australia Police Operation
A hostage runs to armed tactical response police officers for safety after she escaped from a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Dec. 15, 2014.Rob Griffith—AP
By TIME Photo
This screengrab taken from the Australian Channel Seven broadcast shows presumed hostages holding up a flag with Arabic writing inside a cafe in the central business district of Sydney on Dec.15, 2014.
This screengrab taken from the Australian Channel Seven broadcast shows hostages holding up a flag with Arabic writing inside a cafe in the central business district of Sydney on Dec.15, 2014.Channel Seven/AFP/Getty Images
Heavily armed specialist police officers during a siege at Martin Place in the CBD while hostages are held at gunpoint at the Lindt cafe in Sydney, Dec. 15, 2014.
Heavily armed specialist police officers during a siege at Martin Place in the CBD while hostages are held at gunpoint at the Lindt cafe in Sydney, Dec. 15, 2014.Richard Dobson/Newspix/Rex USA
APTOPIX Australia Police Operation
A hostage runs to armed tactical response police officers for safety after she escaped from a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Dec. 15, 2014. Rob Griffith—AP
A TV presenter does a live cross from Phillip St on Dec. 15, 2014 in Sydney.
A TV presenter does a live cross from Phillip St on Dec. 15, 2014 in Sydney.Mark Metcalfe—Getty Images
People run with there hands up from the Lindt Cafe, Martin Place during a hostage standoff on Dec. 15, 2014 in Sydney.
People run with their hands up from the Lindt Cafe, Martin Place during a hostage standoff on Dec. 15, 2014 in Sydney.Joosep Martinson—Getty Images
A injured hostage is wheeled to an ambulance after shots were fired during a cafe siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Dec. 16, 2014.
A injured hostage is wheeled to an ambulance after shots were fired during a cafe siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Dec. 16, 2014. Rob Griffith—AP

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com