Sydney Siege Over After 16 Hours, Three Dead Including Gunman

At 2:49 am local time, about 16 hours after the Sydney hostage crisis began, police officers determined the siege was over. Police officers stormed the Lindt Chocolate cafe to rescue the remaining hostages, possibly ten in total. The hostages were seen fleeing the cafe after a loud bang and gun fire were heard and thick smoke covered the area. Three people died, the 50-year-old gunman, a 34-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman. All died at the hospital following the encounter. Two female hostages and one male police officer were treated for non-life threatening injuries. Another female hostage was shot in the shoulder, she is also recovering at the hospital.

Police confirmed to ABC News that the gunman, Man Haron Monis, was killed in the gunfire. Monis was granted political asylum in Australia almost 20 years ago, and was a self proclaimed Muslim cleric. Several years ago, he made news when he sent hateful letters to the homes of Australian soldiers who served in Afghanistan. The gunman used the hostages as human shields throughout the day.

Sounds of "live ammunition" were heard after "heavily armed" police stormed the shop, the Associated Press reported. Helen Davidson, a Guardian reporter, noted that there were three bursts of gunfire, the first as long as 15 seconds.

The hostages had been in the store with an armed gunman for over sixteen hours, five hostages were able to escape in the first several hours of hours of the situation, including three men and two women. It is believed there were around ten hostages in total, an exact number has not been confirmed.

Several people were taken away on stretchers by paramedics, one person is being treated at St. Vincent's Hospital, Nine News Australia reported.

A bomb disposal robot was sent into the cafe following the police raid.

Families of those those held hostage gathered on the steps of the St. James court house.