Hostage Situation in Cafe in Sydney, Islamic Flag Held Up

Reports said that as many as 20 hostages were held inside a cafe in central Sydney with a siege underway and an Islamic flag held up to a window.

This image taken from video shows people holding up what appeared to be a black flag with white Arabic writing on it, inside a cafe in Sydney, Australia Monday, Dec. 15, 2014.

Police stand at the ready close to a cafe under siege in Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014.
Armed police are seen outside a cafe in the central business district of Sydney on December 15, 2014. Hostages were being held inside a cafe in central Sydney on December 15 with an Islamic flag displayed against a window, according to witnesses and reports.
Police run past the cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney, Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks about the hostage situation in Sydney.
Armed police cordoning off the area near the Lindt Cafe in Sydney, where reportedly about 40 people were held as hostages by armed gunmen.(Agence France-Presse)