Special forces raid Sydney hostage rescue, three dead

Three people were killed, including two hostages and the kidnapper, when heavily armed commandos stormed a cafe, ending a 16-hour hostage crisis in Sydney, Australia.

Australian media reported that the two hostages killed were Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, 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 radical Islamist.

A total of 17 hostages were taken by the gunman in the Lindt pub.

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

Earlier, at around 2:15 a.m. on December 16, local time, or 10:15 p.m. on December 15, Hanoi time, dozens of gunshots rang out. Police raided the Lindt cafe in Sydney, where a gunman was holding dozens of hostages inside.

A group of hostages escape Lindt as gunfire rings out. Photo: SMH.

"Police and medical staff rushed into the building. Dozens of consecutive 'booms' rang out and gunshots lit up the sky," said an SMH reporter.

Several hostages were then seen running away from the cafe.

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

New South Wales Police later confirmed the hostage situation was "over".

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

Several hostages were taken away by ambulance.

According to VNE