Hostage crisis ends: A Sarajevo resident was also blocked in Sydney's center

BREAKING NEWS

17:18 The hostage crisis in Sydney, which lasted 17 hours, has ended. Media report that several people were injured and that three or two people were killed, and three injured are in critical condition. The kidnapper Man Haron Monis held more than 20 hostages in a cafe in this Australian city, and according to media reports, he allegedly planted bombs in several places in the district.

CNN reports that the kidnapper was also most likely killed, but this information has not yet been officially confirmed.

16:15 - Police have identified the kidnapper holding 15 people hostage in Sydney, Australian media reported. His name is Sheik Man Haron Monis, a self-proclaimed preacher of the Islamic State.

The hostage crisis in Sydney at the "Lindth" cafe is still ongoing, and according to a BiH citizen who has lived in Sydney for years, Ernest Kulauzović, during the day there were reports that there were 50 people in the cafe, including employees, writes the BiH news agency Patria. One person, Muhamed Č. from Sarajevo, was blocked in a neighboring building for a good part of the day because all exits from the building were blocked by a police cordon until 4:14 PM when Muhamed left the building and was allowed to go home.

Negotiations are underway with the person who organized the attack. Kulauzović said that information on whether any person of BiH origin was in the cafe is not yet available. He also planted bombs.

- There are a number of BiH citizens in Sydney, from Sarajevo, Zenica, or dual citizens from Slovenia/BiH. What we know is that many Bosniaks work in the very center of Sydney, and I had several conversations with them today - he said.

According to current information, 3 people escaped from Lindth Cafe on Martin Place, and 2 women. As a reminder, the attacker demanded to speak with the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Australia, Tony Abbott.

The hostage crisis has been ongoing for 13 hours, and it began in the early morning hours of Monday local time, writes Patria.

Police have blocked a zone that includes 1,000 business premises, including the American Embassy and the Parliament of New South Wales.