Sydney: At least two people were killed as police stormed the Sydney cafe to end a siege of more than 16 hours by a gunman holding several hostages, television reports said early Tuesday.
An AFP photographer on the scene saw what appeared to be a body, covered by a bloodstained sheet, being stretchered out of the cafe after heavily armed officers entered the cafe in a volley of explosions and flashes.
Read: Timeline of Australia hostage drama at Sydney café
Infosys employee Viswakanth Ankireddy amongst the freed hostages from Lindt cafe. A police spokesman confirmed "the operation is over," but would not release any further details about the fate of the gunman or his remaining captives.
Australia's Channel 7 news reported that at least two people had been killed and three others seriously wounded during the operation.
Read: Sydney cafe hostage Ankireddi Viswakanth's father confident of son’s safe release
The hostage crisis in Sydney is over. Vishwakant Ankit Reddy is safe. He is undergoing some medical check ups and will be back home safe.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 15, 2014We were in constant touch with our mission in Sydney and the family of Shri Reddy. The PM was monitoring the situation throughout.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 15, 2014
