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A swarm of heavily armed police stormed a cafe in the heart of downtown Sydney early Tuesday, ending a siege where a gunman had been holding an unknown number of people hostage for more than 16 hours.

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Television images showed about six people running from the cafe with their hands up after several loud bangs and gunfire were heard.

CNN and some local media outlets are reporting that two people have died, including the gunman, but police have not confirmed. About seven people were seen being carried out on stretchers and a local hospital confirmed a female hostage was shot in the leg.

One weeping woman could be seen being carried out of the officers.

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.

Two people inside the cafe earlier held up a flag with an Islamic declaration of faith that has often been used by extremists, raising fears that a terrorist incident was playing out in the heart of Australia’s biggest city.