Australia PM Urges 'Business As Usual'

Australia's Prime Minister has said there are "some indications" that the siege at a Sydney cafe could be politically motivated.

However, he added that the exact motivation is yet to be established.

Speaking at a news conference in Canberra, Tony Abbott said: "We have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours there are people who would wish to do us harm.

"That's why we have police and security organisations of the utmost professionalism that are ready and able to respond to a whole range of situations and contingencies including the situation that we are now seeing in Sydney.

"The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves. Australia is a peaceful, open and generous society. Nothing should ever change that and that is why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual.

Video: Latest: Sky's Mark Stone

"Of course if anyone does have any suspicions of untoward activity, there is the national security hotline, 1800-123-400, which I would urge them to call."

He added: "Our thoughts and prayers must above all go out to the individuals who are caught up in this.

"I can think of almost nothing more distressing or terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation, and our hearts go out to those people."

New South Wales Police also urged people to "go about their daily business as usual".

Video: Man Inside Cafe With Hostages

"The message at the moment is that you should continue your business as usual. If you had plans to go into the city you should go about your plans as usual," said deputy commissioner Catherine Burn.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron gave his reaction on Twitter, saying: "I was briefed overnight on the siege in Sydney. It's deeply concerning and my thoughts are with all those caught up in it."

Several hours before armed officers surrounded the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place, police announced a man had been arrested in the city as part of investigations into the planning of an attack in Australia.

They said the 25-year-old was seized as part of "continuing investigations into the planning of a terrorist attack on Australian soil and the facilitation of travel of Australian citizens to Syria to engage in armed combat".

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1. Gallery: Latest Images From Australia

   Two hostages run for cover behind a policeman during a hostage siege in the central business district of Sydney

A woman runs for freedom from Sydney's Lindt chocolate shop and cafe in Martin Place

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Sydney Hostage Siege: Four Bombs Claim

A gunman has taken dozens of people hostage in a cafe in Sydney's financial district.

Two Arabic flags similar to those used by Islamic State have been seen inside the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe in Martin Place.

The hostage taker has reportedly claimed to have four bombs - two inside the cafe and two in the financial district.

Worker (L) flees cafe and suspected gunman (R). Pics: Channel 9, Channel 7

Channel Ten has spoken to two hostages who say the gunman has demanded a meeting with Australian Prime Minster Tony Abbott and wants an IS flag delivered to the cafe.

Some of the hostages have spoken to their families on mobile phones - while five, three men and two women, have managed to escape.

Video: Escaping The Sydney Cafe Gunman

Australian police said negotiators had been in contact with the "armed offender" inside the cafe - but refused to speculate on his possible motivation.

The gunman - who has reportedly contacted several media outlets from the cafe - has been seen using hostages as human shields.

New South Wales Police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn described it as a "sensitive negotiation" and said there was nothing to suggest anyone had been harmed.

Martin Place - home to the Reserve Bank of Australia, commercial banks and close to the New South Wales state parliament - has been closed off and up to 100 heavily armed police are surrounding the area.

Video: 'They Put ISIS Sign On The Window'

Earlier, live television footage showed patrons inside the cafe standing with their hands pressed against the windows.

Hostages were also seen holding a black flag with white Arabic text.

According to reports, the gunman, who is wearing a black bandana with white writing on it, walked into the cafe just before 10am local time.

A Lindt executive said there were about 10 staff and "probably 30 customers" in the cafe - but police later said the number was "not as high as 30", although they did not give further details.

Video: Gunman Takes Hostages In Sydney

Sydney Opera House has been evacuated after a suspicious package was reportedly found not long after the police operation in the financial district began.

Police confirmed authorities were dealing with an "incident" there, but said it was not linked to events at the cafe.

The Australian Prime Minister said he has convened the National Security Committee for emergency briefings following the "hostage-taking situation".

"This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner," said Mr Abbott.

Video: Man Came Face-To-Face With Gunman

Mr Abbott said he did not yet know the motivation of those holding the hostages, adding: "Our thoughts and prayers must above all go out to the individuals who are caught up in this.

"I can think of almost nothing more distressing or terrifying than to be caught up in such a situation, and our hearts go out to those people."

Police have now confirmed they are working "on a footing" it is a terrorist incident - but they remain confident a peaceful resolution can be achieved.

Several buildings in the area have been evacuated, including the Channel 7 newsroom opposite the cafe, and staff at the Reserve Bank of Australia are in lockdown inside the building. All are said to be safe.

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1. Gallery: Latest Images From Australia

   Two hostages run for cover behind a policeman during a hostage siege in the central business district of Sydney

A woman runs for freedom from Sydney's Lindt chocolate shop and cafe in Martin Place

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Top MP's Demand Over CIA Torture Report

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

The head of the UK's Intelligence and Security Committee is demanding to see material documenting any British links to the CIA's use of torture.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, chair of the Commons committee, is seeking any intelligence relating to the UK that was redacted from the explosive Senate report into the CIA.

It concluded that the CIA lied over its torture and interrogation programme developed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Sir Malcolm told The Observer newspaper: "I am not going to go into the details of how we might try and achieve this, there are various ways we can try and advance it, but at the end of the day the actual decision on the American redacted material is for the Americans to take.

"One additional point is that the only issues we are going to be asking them about are issues relevant to the United Kingdom.

Video: Former CIA Officer Michael Scheuer

"We don't need to see the whole of their redacted report."

The British Government has admitted requesting the deletion of references to Britain's intelligence agencies for national security reasons.

UK Government representatives had 24 meetings with members of the US committee responsible for the findings.

Video: MI5 And MI6 Involvement Questioned

Some of the deletions are believed to relate to the British Overseas Territory of Diego Garcia.

There is escalating pressure on the British government not to extend an agreement allowing the US to use the territory in the Indian Ocean as a military base.

Andrew Tyrie, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on rendition, said any negotiations should address allegations that it was used by the CIA to render terror suspects around the world.

Video: UK Involvement in CIA Torture

"The negotiations on the lease can focus minds on establishing the scope and limits of Britain's involvement, direct or indirect, in extraordinary rendition," Mr Tyrie said.

"We are talking about kidnap and taking people to places where they may be maltreated or tortured."

The former Home Office minister, Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who has taken a close interest in the atoll, said: "As it comes up for renewal, we need a full explanation of what happened in our name on that island."

Video: UK Wanted CIA Report Changes

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Air Traffic Was Warned About Fault Risks: Report

The body in charge of Britain's air traffic control system was warned four months ago that it was ill equipped to deal any technical faults, it has been claimed.

A report in the Independent on Sunday says the Civil Aviation Authority told NATS officials in the summer that they needed to be better prepared to deal with IT problems.

A computer glitch at NATS control centre in Hampshire on Friday led more than 300 flights being cancelled or delayed and travel disruption for thousands of passengers.

The air traffic control organisation said on Saturday that the computer meltdown was sparked by an unprecedented systems failure.

It was the second major problem to hit the Swanwick centre in just over a year.

Video: Plane Chaos: Fault 'Unprecedented'

The Independent on Sunday also said that experts had warned NATS that a huge redundancy programme might deepen the problem, resulting in serious future meltdowns.

Meanwhile, an MP called for the top boss of NATS to lose his bonuses as a result of the failure.

Richard Deakin, NATS chief executive, said the software glitch was "buried" among millions of lines of code written a quarter of a century ago.

But Labour MP Paul Flynn told The Sunday Times that Mr Deakin earns more than £1m after receiving a 45% pay rise this year.

"I hope after the chaos, which was dreadful, though a rare event, he will have his bonuses stripped from him," he said.

NATS said operations were back to normal on Saturday with only minor delays and cancellations at some of the UK's airports as a result of a backlog.

Video: Flights Delayed In London Airspace

A statement from NATS said: "Swanwick controller workstations provide a number of tools and services to the controller to enable them to safely control a high volume of air traffic.

"In normal operations the number of workstations in use versus in standby fluctuates with the demands of the traffic being controlled.

"In this instance a transition between the two states caused a failure in the system which has not been seen before.

"The failure meant that the controllers were unable to access all of the data regarding individual flight plans which significantly increases their workload.

"We immediately took steps to reduce the traffic into and out of the UK network. At no time was safety compromised in any way."

Mr Deakin said NATS is investing a "huge amount" in new technology, with £575m set to be spent over the next five years to move towards more resilient, internet-based systems.

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Jihadi's Father Regrets Co-Operating With Police

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Video: Jihadi Dad's Regrets Over Informing

By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

The father of a British jihadi jailed for nearly 13 years after travelling to Syria says parents with children who do the same will be "too scared to tell police".

Mohammed Nahin Ahmed's father spoke to Sky News exclusively on the condition that neither his name nor face were shown.

His son was sentenced alongside his friend Yusuf Sarwar at Woolwich Crown Court last week for terrorism offences.

Childhood friends Sarwar and Ahmed, both 22, were given 12 years eight months in prison each, plus another five years on licence.

Ahmed's father says his family co-operated with the police and helped persuade the pair to return home to Handsworth in Birmingham.

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1. Gallery: Terror Pair Left Trail On Computer

   Two British men who travelled to Syria to fight alongside rebels have pleaded guilty to terrorism offences. All photos from West Midlands Police.

Mohammed Nahin Ahmed and Yusuf Zubair Sarwar spent eight months in Syria last year after contacting Islamist extremists from the UK. This email was sent to Ahmed by a Danish extremist.

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Nahin and Sarwar leaving the Heathrow Premier Inn for the airport terminal.

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"We told the police, we went to them for help but we didn't get any. We surrendered them for justice but the police didn't help at all.

"If anyone's children go to Syria now, no one will tell the police because they will be too scared to tell them this.

"My son lives in jail so what did I gain from going to the police? People go to the police for justice and help. No, I wouldn't go again."

Ahmed and Sarwar admitted engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorism acts in July.

They became the first Britons to be convicted in the UK of Syria-related terrorism offences.

Upon sentencing the judge said it made no difference that their offences were abroad and described them as "fundamentalists committed to violent extremism".

Ahmed's father, however, says his son made a mistake and returned to the UK because he feared for his life.

"No, he is normal. His life was normal. He prayed just the way we do. I think maybe it was the internet that brought those kinds of thoughts to him, the internet brainwashes people these days.

"But going to war without telling us was wrong. Going to war is wrong."

Both families have said they will appeal against what they see as excessive and unfair sentences.

Ahmed's father said a similar case a week before saw two brothers from East London jailed for less than half of his son's sentence.

Mohommod Nawaz and Hamza Nawaz were given four-and-a-half years and three-and-a-half years respectively.

They had admitted conspiracy to attend a terrorism training camp in Syria.

Ahmed's father said he had communicated with his son in prison recently, who had expected a five or six-year jail term.

"I have spoken to him over the phone. He is feeling very bad. He knew that he will be sentenced, but he didn't think it would be this long. If he had known he wouldn't have come back from Syria."

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We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Video: Jihadi Dad's Regrets Over Informing

By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

The father of a British jihadi jailed for nearly 13 years after travelling to Syria says parents with children who do the same will be "too scared to tell police".

Mohammed Nahin Ahmed's father spoke to Sky News exclusively on the condition that neither his name nor face were shown.

His son was sentenced alongside his friend Yusuf Sarwar at Woolwich Crown Court last week for terrorism offences.

Childhood friends Sarwar and Ahmed, both 22, were given 12 years eight months in prison each, plus another five years on licence.

Ahmed's father says his family co-operated with the police and helped persuade the pair to return home to Handsworth in Birmingham.

1/11

1. Gallery: Terror Pair Left Trail On Computer

   Two British men who travelled to Syria to fight alongside rebels have pleaded guilty to terrorism offences. All photos from West Midlands Police.

Mohammed Nahin Ahmed and Yusuf Zubair Sarwar spent eight months in Syria last year after contacting Islamist extremists from the UK. This email was sent to Ahmed by a Danish extremist.

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Nahin and Sarwar leaving the Heathrow Premier Inn for the airport terminal.

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"We told the police, we went to them for help but we didn't get any. We surrendered them for justice but the police didn't help at all.

"If anyone's children go to Syria now, no one will tell the police because they will be too scared to tell them this.

"My son lives in jail so what did I gain from going to the police? People go to the police for justice and help. No, I wouldn't go again."

Ahmed and Sarwar admitted engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorism acts in July.

They became the first Britons to be convicted in the UK of Syria-related terrorism offences.

Upon sentencing the judge said it made no difference that their offences were abroad and described them as "fundamentalists committed to violent extremism".

Ahmed's father, however, says his son made a mistake and returned to the UK because he feared for his life.

"No, he is normal. His life was normal. He prayed just the way we do. I think maybe it was the internet that brought those kinds of thoughts to him, the internet brainwashes people these days.

"But going to war without telling us was wrong. Going to war is wrong."

Both families have said they will appeal against what they see as excessive and unfair sentences.

Ahmed's father said a similar case a week before saw two brothers from East London jailed for less than half of his son's sentence.

Mohommod Nawaz and Hamza Nawaz were given four-and-a-half years and three-and-a-half years respectively.

They had admitted conspiracy to attend a terrorism training camp in Syria.

Ahmed's father said he had communicated with his son in prison recently, who had expected a five or six-year jail term.

"I have spoken to him over the phone. He is feeling very bad. He knew that he will be sentenced, but he didn't think it would be this long. If he had known he wouldn't have come back from Syria."

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New Unit To Target 'Dark-Net' Paedophiles

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent

A new joint unit from the National Crime Agency and GCHQ will target users sharing child abuse images on the "dark net".

The as-yet-unnamed unit will develop new technological capabilities to analyse the vast array of illegal images and focus on the most prolific offenders.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The so-called 'dark net' is increasingly used by paedophiles to view sickening images.

"I want them to hear loud and clear, we are shining a light on the web's darkest corners: if you are thinking of offending there will be nowhere for you to hide."

The dark net refers to areas of the internet which are not indexed by search engines like Google or Bing. Many sites are only accessible with anonymity software such as Tor. 

Video: Online Abuse: How Big Is Problem?

Around 20,000 people in the UK visit secret or encrypted networks every day, although not all of those who visit these sites do so for criminal purposes.

The dark net is the new focus of a UK campaign against child abuse images which has had notable success on the "surface web".

In 2014, the Internet Watch Foundation, which proactively seeks out child sexual abuse imagery, has removed images from 27,850 websites - a 109% increase on the previous year.

In 1996, the UK was responsible for 18% of all child abuse imagery hosted online. Today, it is responsible for less than 1%.

Private companies have helped with this effort. Images identified by the Internet Watch Foundation are given a digital fingerprint, called a hash value.

Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Facebook and Yahoo use those fingerprints to identify images being shared on their sites and to remove them.

Google and Microsoft have also introduced changes to their search engines. Microsoft uses information provided by the NCA to blacklist particular search terms.

Matt Brittin, Google's president for northern and central Europe, said: "Over the past 12 months our algorithm changes and deterrent campaign have already led to a five-fold reduction in a number of child sexual abuse image-related queries in search."

The new unit is the cornerstone of measures to be announced by Mr Cameron at the We Protect Children Online summit in London.

The UK has created its own database of 2.6 million known child abuse images to assist police across the country.

More than 30 countries have given commitments to increase their law enforcement endeavours around online child abuse, by setting up their own national databases of child abuse material or linking to the Interpol database.

A new £50m Child Protection Fund, the first of its kind, will support prevention and help victims. UNICEF will support its development.

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Shrien Dewani Prepares To Leave South Africa

British businessman Shrien Dewani is expected to leave South Africa today after he was cleared by a judge of plotting to murder his wife.

The case against the 34-year-old was dismissed by Judge Jeanette Traverso, who ruled that prosecution arguments fell "far below" the level needed for a conviction.

Mr Dewani, of Westbury-on-Trym, had denied any involvement in the murder of his 28-year-old wife Anni.

He said she was killed during a botched carjacking during their Cape Town honeymoon in November 2010.

The dismissal of the case led to angry scenes outside court as Mrs Dewani's family criticised the South African justice system.

Video: Family 'So Sad And Disappointed'

In a statement read outside the court, the Hindocha family said: "The knowledge of not knowing is going to haunt us for the rest of our lives."

Mrs Dewani's sister Ami Denborg told Sky's Alex Crawford: "The justice system has failed us."

The family say they will review the case with their lawyers to see if they can file a lawsuit against Mr Dewani in the UK.

Mr Dewani is now free to return to Britain. He breathed a sigh of relief as the judge dismissed the case against him.

Members of Mr Dewani's family wept and embraced as he quickly left the dock.

Mrs Dewani's family bowed their heads as shouting was heard from the public gallery.

Three men - Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni - have already been convicted over Mrs Dewani's murder.

Video: Anni Dewani's Family Speak Of Loss

Qwabe is currently serving a 25-year sentence. Mngeni was serving life for firing the shot that killed Mrs Dewani, but died from a brain tumour in October.

The murder took place when the Dewanis' chauffeur-driven tour of a township was hijacked.

Prosecutors claimed Dewani, who is bisexual, wanted to leave the relationship and arranged the carjacking during the couple's honeymoon.

But Dewani's defence team said the case against him was weak.

Giving her ruling on the application to dismiss the case, Judge Traverso said the evidence from the men was "so improbable, with so many mistakes, lies and inconsistencies you cannot see where the lies ended and the truth begins".

She added that the only reason not to grant the application would be in the hope that Mr Dewani would implicate himself during his testimony.

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