Hundreds of police flooded into the area, streets were closed and offices evacuated. The public was told to stay away from Martin Place, home to the state premier's office, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the headquarters of two of the nation's largest banks.
The state parliament house is a few blocks away.Television footage shot through the cafe's windows showed several people with their arms in the air and hands pressed against the glass, and two people holding up a black flag with the Shahada, or Islamic declaration of faith, written on it.
The Shahada translates as “”There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.” It is considered the first of Islam's five pillars of faith, and is similar to the Lord's Prayer in Christianity.
