Sydney Cafe Patrons Held Hostage; Flag Placed In Window

Unknown gunmen entered a cafe in Sydney's business district Monday morning, taking as many as 20 hostages, reports from the Australian city said. The cafe at Martin Place, where the Reserve Bank of Australia building is also located, was surrounded by police as the situation unfolded, with various reports also saying a black-and-white flag similar to those used by some Mideast Islamic militant groups, was seen in the window of the establishment.