Australian police say no contact with hostage-taker in Sydney café

Sydney: Australian police said on Monday they had not had 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.

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