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PHOTOS: Chaotic Scenes as Sydney Hostage Crisis Unfolds

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

December 15, 2014 11:11 AM EST

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

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