Sydney siege: Here's how world is reacting to the crisis

New Delhi, Dec 15: It has been almost 12 hours since an Islamic State gunman held several people at a cafe in Sydney as hostage on Monday. More than 30 people, including a techie from India, are still held inside Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place, a busy tourist and shopping district in central Sydney.

Social media is abuzz with updates and public reaction on the "Sydney siege" from all across the globe. Micro-blogging website Twitter is flooded with tweets in which people are expressing their solidarity with the hostages and their families in such a situation of crisis. People are also sharing latest images and developments from ground zero making "#sydneyseige" one of the top trending topics of the day, worldwide.

Here are some of the tweets:

Such powerful images of hostages escaping, those poor women. And the fear for those still trapped inside #Sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/uv64bN7P8q

— Mini me (@minime2871) December 15, 2014

Firetrucks covered in tinsel on @abcnews live coverage #sydneysiege are a stark reminder of time of year, thoughts to Emergency Services

— ~* Carina *~ (@trvllngjwllr) December 15, 2014

#sydneysiege 1 moron with a gun, in a chocolate shop brings a city of 4.6M to a grinding halt. Lucky there's not 2 or 3 of them. #Ausinvaded

— Allan Kleiman (@allankmelb) December 15, 2014

What I learned from #Hollywood, no hostage situation has ended in favour of the hostage taker #SydneySiege

— Eddy Ng (@profng) December 15, 2014

Just finished work and can't believe the #sydneysiege is still unresolved. Those poor people are in for a lifetime of counselling. :(

— Claudia Bianchi (@Bianchi_Claudia) December 15, 2014

#illridewithyou movement emerging from #sydneysiege is such an encouragimg start to 2015. This is huge for interfaith solidarity @sirtessa

— Arfa Shahid (@ArfaShahid) December 15, 2014

What the hell is the matter we these people around the #sydneysiege area? Go home morons & let the situation resolve pic.twitter.com/Dlz6vsJSO3

— Christopher John (@mrchrisjohn) December 15, 2014

Praying for all still being held hostage xxx #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/7nF342x3wx

— KIIS 1065 (@kiis1065) December 15, 2014

Thinking about the hostage negotiators. Unsung heroes in the background. Takes a special sort of person to be in that role. #sydneysiege

— Randa Abdel-Fattah (@RandaAFattah) December 15, 2014

RT "@DailyMailAU: Shameful tourists take selfies at scene of #SydneySiege http://t.co/Yw6GWUvRCL pic.twitter.com/3HCsu6hJ1I" xD menudo retraso."

— Özay Özcamizci (@EusOzcamizci) December 15, 2014

Seriously scary how long this has gone on for. Can't believe this is actually still happening. So surreal #sydneysiege

— Abby! (@AbbyCadabby__) December 15, 2014

Expert who trained Sydney police in hostage negotiations says #sydneysiege looks like work of "lone wolf" who may be in search of a cause

— Jane Wardell (@TheJaneWardell) December 15, 2014