The siege of the Lindt cafe in Sydney is now over, police have confirmed.

The New South Wales Police tweeted the following at 15.44 GMT (2.44am local time)

Reports coming from the scene said that police stormed the cafe where an unknown number of hostages were being held by an armed gunman.

Several bursts of gunfire were heard and police have confirmed that live ammunition was used. Hostages have been seen fleeing the cafe and some have received medical attention. A bomb disposal robot has entered the building.  

The hostage-taker who took around 30 people prisoner in a café in Sydney is an Iranian refugee who has been charged with sexual assault and is known for sending hate letters to the families of Australian soldiers killed overseas, according to a police source.

Man Haron Monis, 49, a self-styled sheikh, was granted political asylum in Australia in 1996 and was on bail facing various charges. 

Monis displayed a black flag as an expression of sympathy with the Islamic State terrorist militia. 

"Our only goal tonight, and for as long as this takes, is to get those people that are currently caught in that building out of there safely," New South Wales State Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.

Monis has previously been disowned by Australian Muslims and his status as a cleric is unclear.