Sydney Siege: Up To 40 Hostages Held - Reports

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A huge police operation is under way in Sydney's financial district, with reports that up to 40 hostages are being held in a cafe.

Part of Martin Place - home to the Reserve Bank of Australia, commercial banks and close to the New South Wales state parliament - has been closed off and up to 100 heavily armed police are surrounding the area.

Live television footage showed patrons inside the Lindt Chocolate Cafe standing with their hands pressed against the windows.

A black flag with white Arabic text, similar to those used by Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria, was also visible.

According to media reports, at least one gunman walked into the cafe just before 10am local time.

Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs that sounded like gunshots.

A reporter at Australia's Channel Nine News said: "We are dealing with an extremely serious situation.

"There are people inside the cafe who have been placed at the window with their hands up to show the world that they have been taken hostage."

A Lindt executive said there were about 10 staff and "probably 30 customers" in the cafe before the operation started.

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Gallery: Latest Images From Sydney As Hostage Situation Develops

Hostages have been taken inside a chocolate shop and cafe in central Sydney

Streets in the area were closed and offices evacuated, with the public told to stay away

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New South Wales police say they are dealing with "an armed incident"

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Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Australia's top politicians met to be briefed on the situation

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Heavily armed officers were lined up outside the cafe

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Sydney Opera House has been evacuated after a suspicious package was reportedly found not long after the police operation in the financial district began.

New South Wales police confirmed authorities were dealing with an "incident" there, but it is not known whether they are linking it to events at the cafe.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he has convened the National Security Committee for emergency briefings following the "hostage-taking situation".

"This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner," he said.

Mr Abbott said he did not yet know the motivation of those holding the hostages, adding: "Our thoughts and prayers must above all go out to the individuals who are caught up in this.

"I can think of almost nothing more distressing or terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation, and our hearts go out to those people."

Several buildings in the area have been evacuated, including the Channel 7 newsroom opposite the cafe, and staff at the Reserve Bank of Australia are in lockdown inside the building. All are said to be safe.

The United States has evacuated its Sydney consulate and issued an emergency warning to US citizens in the city, urging them to "maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security".

Trains and bus services have been stopped and roads cordoned off as the public have been told to stay away. Air traffic is functioning as normal.

In a separate development, police said a 25-year-old man had been arrested on alleged terrorism offences in the city just a few hours before the siege operation began.

He was seized this morning as part of "continuing investigations into the planning of a terrorist attack on Australian soil and the facilitation of travel of Australian citizens to Syria to engage in armed combat".

He was reportedly arrested as he left a prayer hall, with police due to hold a news conference later today with more details.

The arrest comes after the Australian government in September raised its terror threat level and conducted large-scale counter-terror raids across the country.

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