Sydney hostage siege: Video reveals the moments when five hostages flee gunman in cafe

Video: At least five people have now escaped the hostage situation that has been going on for hours

A hostage runs to armed tactical response police officers for safety after she escaped from a cafe under siege at Martin Place in the central business district of Sydney

As the siege in Sydney enters its eleventh hour, at least five people have escaped from the café in the Australian capital where a gunman is holding an undisclosed number of people hostage.

The gunman has been holding people hostage in a Lindt café since Monday morning in Martin Place in Sydney and several prominent buildings have been shut down in and around the area.

The man is demanding a meeting with the Australian Prime Minister and has claimed to have four bombs, two inside the café and two in the financial district.

The gunman has reportedly agreed to release one hostage if an Isis (also known as Islamic State) flag is delivered to the café immediately, according to TEN news in Australia.

One of the women, who is wearing an apron and presumably worked in the café, can be seen running in visible fear into the arms of an armed policeman who carries her around the corner and out of harms way. Another woman follows her shortly, also wearing an apron, and she joins the other hostage in safety round the side of the building with police.

Footage broadcast on Sky News showed two men running towards a group of police around what appeared to be a fire escape door. In a separate shot another man, wearing a brown apron, was seen running out through the door.

New South Wales health authorities have confirmed one male hostage is being treated at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.