Terror attack in Sydney - hostages held inside café in Martin Place

#sydneysiege The jihadists have attacked a chocolate café in Sydney and are believed to be holding hostages consisting of customers and staff of the Lindt café in central part of the city. It is an armed siege and gunmen are inside – they have forced sobbing hostages against the window with their hands raised. The jihadist flag has been seen in the windows. It is the flag of the Shahada of the Jabhat al Nusra.
The Australian police have sealed off the surrounding streets because there are genuine apprehensions that the attacker or attackers may be having shotgun and explosives.
The NYPD has indicated that they are 'aware of what's happening in Australia', and are ‘monitoring the situation in Sydney.' The U.S. government has evacuated its consulate in Sydney since it is very close to the scene of the confrontation.
It is believed that the attack has links to ISIS, the terror organization – it has been routinely encouraging its supporters to make small-scale 'lone wolf' attacks against the West, especially the United States.
President Barack Obama has been briefed on the situation by a homeland security and counter-terrorism adviser. As per preliminary reports, the Sydney incident began shortly after a 25-year-old suspect was arrested in a terror raid in the city. Officials have evacuated the Sydney Opera House nearby following reports of a suspicious device.
It may be recalled that in September, a man had been arrested – it was reported that he had plans to select an individual at random, behead him (or her), cover the body with the flag of ISIS and take a video of the same and use it further as propaganda material for the ISIS cause.