Hostages being held at Australian Chocolate Shop, possible terrorist attack UPDATE

A gunman has taken people hostage inside an Australian chocolate shop.

The hostages are being held in the Lindt Chocolat Café in Martin Place, according to BBC News. Armed police officers have blocked off the area and are directing people away from the area. Tweets have been pouring in showing photos of the hostages with their arms pressed against the window and holding a black flag with Arabic writing. About 13 staff members and customers are reported to be inside the store.

The flag was originally assumed to be related to the terrorist group ISIS, reports NBC News, but Greg Barton, a terrorism expert at Monash University in Melbourne, described the flag as a more general flag “used by jihadi groups as a battle banner." He continued that the use of the flag points to a terrorist attack.

New South Wales police has evacuated buildings in the area. Gunfire has been reported in the area, but not yet confirmed.

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