Special forces raid Sydney to rescue hostages, three dead.

Three people were killed, including two hostages and their captor, when heavily armed special forces raided a cafe, ending a 16-hour hostage crisis in Sydney, Australia.

Australian media reported that the two hostages killed were Tori Johnson, 34, the manager of the Lindt cafe, and a 38-year-old lawyer. Four others were injured, including a police officer.

Sky News reported that the hostage-taker who was killed was Man Haron Monis, an Iranian-born Islamic extremist.

A total of 17 hostages were held by the gunman inside the Lindt restaurant.

A hostage is escorted out of the Lindt cafe in Sydney, Australia. Photo: SMH

Earlier, at around 2:15 AM local time on December 16th (10:15 PM on December 15th Hanoi time), dozens of gunshots rang out. Police then raided the Lindt cafe in Sydney, where a gunman was holding dozens of hostages inside.

A group of hostages escaped from Lindt as gunfire erupted. Photo: SMH.

"Police and medical personnel stormed the building. Dozens of consecutive 'booms' rang out, and gunfire lit up the sky," an SMH reporter said.

Several hostages were then seen escaping from the cafe.

"The hostages ran out in two groups. The first group consisted of about five people, with their hands raised. This was after the first shots were fired. Then, witnesses said, after a series of shots, a second group of about five hostages ran out," said James Robertson, a reporter for SMH.

New South Wales police later confirmed that the hostage situation "has ended".

A hostage is being taken away from the scene. Photo: AP.

Many hostages were taken away by ambulance.

According to VNE