ROUGH CUT, NO REPORTER NARRATION
Dramatic video has been released by Australia's Seven Network of the moment on Tuesday (December 16) morning when police stormed the Sydney cafe where several hostages were held at gunpoint for 16 hours.
The video was shot from Seven Network's newsroom directly opposite the scene of the siege, the Lindt Cafe in the city centre.
The video shows the hostage taker appearing to be agitated shortly after 2 a.m. local time (1500 GMT on Monday).
Moments earlier, at least six people believed to have been held captive had managed to flee the scene.
After the sound of a single shot is heard, a police marksman inside the newsroom is heard saying 'hostage down' and officers are soon seen storming the building, with heavy gunfire and loud bangs ringing out.
During the siege, hostages had been forced to display an Islamic flag, igniting fears of a jihadist attack.
Two hostages and the gunman were declared after the raid.
