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WATCH: The Moment Hostages Flee Gunman

Before Australian police stormed a Sydney cafe, at least five people managed to get out of the building.

In all, three woman and two men were seen running, terrified, from the building and into the arms of heavily armed tactical squad members.

These are the dramatic images and video from the scene:

This photo, captured at the moment a fleeing woman made contact with police has already been shared across the globe.

Police locked down the heart of Australia's biggest city on Monday after an armed man walked into the Lindt Chocolate Café, atop Martin Place in the city centre at 9:45 am (22:45 GMT on Sunday), taking several cafe workers hostage.

Over the course of the 16-hour ordeal, some hostages were reportedly forced to stand in the shop windows and hold a flag bearing the Islamic declaration of faith.

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