PM Stephen Harper offers condolences to Australia

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, right, shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott as he arrives at the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, on Saturday, Nov.15, 2014. CP

The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has sent Canada’s condolences to Australia after the deadly hostage-taking in Sydney.

Australian police ended a 16-hour standoff today when they rushed a downtown coffee shop where a man had been holding 17 people.

The clash left two hostages and the gunman dead and four others wounded.

The prime minister offered condolences to the family and friends of the hostages who were killed.

He also wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

He says Canada mourns with Australia.

ISIS hostage situation going on in Australia cafe

Around 9.30am yesterday morning Dec. 14th, a man witnesses described as wearing a headband covered in Arabic walked into a central Sydney cafe, produced a gun and now holding several people - about 15/20 - hostage inside the cafe. He later forced crying women to hold a black Islamic flag up to the window. He is believed to be affiliated with Islamic sect ISIS. Read full story from  Daily Mail