Sydney Hostage Crisis Ends As Police Storm Cafe

A tense hostage situation in Sydney, Australia ended Tuesday morning when police stormed a local cafe where an unknown number of hostages were being held by a suspected Iranian refugee.

Police confirmed that the "the operation is over" early Tuesday morning after news footage showed heavily armed police officers storming the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in downtown Sydney and hastily ushering out people who had been held in the cafe for 16 hours.

The cafe is located in the downtown area's Martin Place, known as the financial district for Sydney.

Footage shows that police chose to storm the cafe after about five or six hostages were seen running from the premises. Police were also seen escorting an emotional woman and taking out two other hostages on stretchers.

The gunman who had allegedly been holding the people in a cafe has been identified as Iranian refugee Haron Monis, who gained political asylum in Australia in the 1990's. The suspect allegedly hung an Islamic black flag in the cafe window and forced certain hostages to communicate his demands to police from the cafe window.

The suspect is reportedly out on bail for an accessory to murder charge of his former wife, as well as over 40 sexual and indecent assault charges.

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement that the cafe's gunman was reportedly claiming "political motivation" through his act, adding that "this is a very disturbing incident."

"It is profoundly shocking that innocent people should be held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation," Abbott added.