Critical incident established following Martin Place siege
Tuesday, 16 December 2014 05:33:40 AM
A critical incident investigation has been launched after three people died and four others were injured during a police operation in Sydney’s CBD this morning.
About 2.10am (Tuesday 16 December), a confrontation occurred between police and a man who had taken a number of people hostage inside a café on Martin Place.
Shots were fired during the confrontation.
As a result, the 50-year-old man was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.
Another man, aged 34, and a woman, aged 38, were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.
Two women have been taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while a male police officer suffered a non-life threatening wound to his face from gunshot pellets and was taken to hospital.
Another woman has been taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to her shoulder.
A 35-year-old woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The police operation has concluded and the investigations into entire incident will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.
All information will be provided to the Coroner who will determine the cause of and make any findings about the events leading to the deaths.
No further details are available at this time; however, police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone who can assist police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Attorney General Greg Smith