OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other Canadian government officials are closely watching what is being described as an apparent hostage taking in Australia’s largest city.
Harper tweeted that “Canada’s thoughts and prayers are with our Australian friends.”
Police in Sydney say they are dealing with “an armed incident,” but they won’t confirm hostages are being held inside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney. Television footage shot through the cafe’s windows showed several people with their arms in the air and hands pressed against the glass.
TV footage showed two people inside the cafe holding up what appeared to be a black flag with white Arabic writing on it. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird tweeted that he has been in touch with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop.
The situation in Australia comes just a few weeks after Harper and Baird were at the epicentre of a crisis that gripped Ottawa. where a lone gunman killed a Canadian soldier and then stormed the Parliament Buildings before being gunned down by security.
A spokesman for Baird said late Sunday that the government is in close contact with its diplomatic posts in Australia.
“We urge all Canadians in Sydney to use extra precaution and limit their movements as authorities handle this situation,” Rick Roth said in an emailed statement.
“We have offered Australia any assistance Canada can provide.”
Canada has a consulate in Sydney that is roughly one kilometre from where the cafe involved, but Baird’s office said all staff at the mission are safe and accounted for.
*With files from The Associated Press
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