15 Dec 2014 10:23

Consulate General to find out whether any Russians taken hostage in Sydney

MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax) - The Russian Consulate General in Sydney is so far unaware of any Russians taken hostage in a downtown cafe.

"We are monitoring this situation and trying to find out whether any hostages are Russian citizens," Consul-Counselor of the Russian mission Yuri Kovalko told the Rossiya-24 channel.

The Sydney police are trying to free about 40 hostages taken in a city shopping mall on Monday.

Observers are inclined to link the incident to the progress made in the inquiry into terror attack planning in Australia. The hostages were taken several minutes before the authorities announced the arrest of a suspected terrorist, a young man who allegedly sent Australian citizens to the war in Syria.