2nd lead
Australian security forces stormed a café in Sydney to release hostages that had been held for 16 hours by a gunman.
Two hostages, including the gunman were killed, reported Reuters. The New South Wales police announced the end of the siege at 15:00 (GMT).
The military operation began after the gunman was named as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian refugee who had claimed political asylum. He was facing charges of sexual assault as well as being accessory to murder.
During the siege hostages were forced to display an Islamic flag displaying the Shahada that had also been used by Islamic state militants and Al-Qaeda.
Muslim leaders in Australia urged calm, with the Australian National Imams Council, condemning the “criminal act unequivocally.”
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