Australian Police Say No Contact with Hostage-Taker in Sydney Cafe

Armed police run toward the Lindt cafe in the central business district of Sydney on December 15, 2014. (AP)

Sydney: Australian police said on Monday they had not had any direct contact with an armed offender holding an undisclosed number of people hostage at a cafe in central Sydney.

"We have moved to a footing that would be consistent with a terrorist event," New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters in Sydney.

Mr Scipione said that the siege was contained to a single event in Sydney's central business district and that the city remained open for business.