I heard approx 12 hostages.

2 gun mens.

News says 12 hostages :(

This is terrible. I hope that the police are able to deal with this quickly and safely for those inside. So awful.

They're talking about how terrorists threats of beheading someone in public.

Oh my god, I hope that's not true ! ?

Have the said how many hostages and is the news coming to you live?

This is really upsetting and aggravating.

Without trying to sound selfish, I'm so glad we moved to Newcastle two weeks ago. We lived in Canterbury, not that close, but too close to my liking.

I know it can happen anywhere, but obviously the city is a huge target :(

My heart is breaking.

It makes me so angry as well !

I use to go into that cafe all the time when I was working in the cbd. Watching it I can't help but wonder why a little cafe like that? Is it ploy for one of the bigger buildings around it?

Just pray nothing bad happens. Please don't let anything bad happen here in Australia.

@macca he is working today:( he used to work in Martin Place too.

He works in s government building in Pitt St, they've been told not to move.

This makes me want to never go into a cbd again. Over-reacting I know especially as I live in Tas but it's so scary that it's happening in our country by people who are probably citizens of Australia. :/

@Jade, was he working today? My SO used to work in Martin Place.

@Ks, very scary thought.

My heart goes out to the families of the hostages too!

Praying for all those inside. If it's a terror attack, I can't imagine what their demands are or if these people will make it out alive. I'm so heart broken for the hostages and what they would be feeling. I'm out at the moment so if someone can keep me updated on this post...

It's the Isis flag. This is terrible prey ladies people get out safely ?

I was in the CBD shopping yesterday, it's so scary to think I live so close and now it's happening in our country ?

I'm praying for those people to make it out safely :( how scary I wonder how the police are going to handle the situation.

Is just turned the tv on. So horrifying:( my husband works up the road from there!

Praying everyone gets out safely! And soon! I can't imagine how traumatic that would be :(

I turned off abc kids and put on a DVD on the laptop for dd1 so I could watch it.

How horrible is this.

Definitely a terrorist attack.

They just confirmed its an Islamic state flag ?

Yeah how scary. I can't imagine how the hostages feel. I can't stop watching, I'm so worried for them. They just confirmed it is a terror based flag! :/

Oh no, I can't imagine they would rob the Lindt shop,hope it isn't a terrorist attack... What flag?

Sorry, part of their building.

Yeah, I heard that. How scary!

Even their building is being evacuated now! ?

Yeah definitely. The morning show hosts said a few months ago terrorists mentioned doing something near there. :/

It's hard not to think its terrorist activity :(

It definitely doesn't look like a robbery

Looks like the flag may be terror based. :( hope it's not an isis thing or the hostages would be purely for their publicity.

So worried for them!