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Russian Consulate General Unaware of Russian Hostages in Sydney Cafe Siege

Sputnik International

Russian Consulate General in Sydney is figuring out, whether Russian nationals are among those taken hostage by at least one armed man in a Sydney cafe... 15.12.2014, Sputnik International

2014-12-15T05:20+0000

2014-12-15T05:42+0000

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Russian Consulate General Unaware of Russian Hostages in Sydney Cafe Siege

05:20 GMT 15.12.2014 (Updated: 05:42 GMT 15.12.2014)

Police check buildings close to a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 - Sputnik International

Russian Consulate General in Sydney is figuring out, whether Russian nationals are among those taken hostage by at least one armed man in a Sydney cafe, according to consul Yury Kovalko.

Armed police stand at the ready close to a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 - Sputnik International

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Australian Police Call Sydney Cafe Siege Armed Attack, Not Terrorist Act

15 December 2014, 04:16 GMT

MOSCOW, December 15 (Sputnik) — Russian Consulate General in Sydney is still unaware, whether Russian nationals are among those taken hostage by at least one armed man in a Sydney cafe, consul Yury Kovalko said Monday.

“We are watching the situation very closely and figuring out, whether Russian citizens are among those taken hostage,” Kovalko told Rossiya-24 TV channel.

At around 10:00 a.m. local time on Monday (11 p.m. GMT Sunday), customers and staff were taken hostage by at least one person at Sydney's Lindt Cafe. The CEO of the cafe under siege told Australia's News Corp there may be from 40 to 50 hostages, including the cafe's staff and customers.

The hostage-taker demanded to speak with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Australian police are now working to determine the motivation of the offender.