IT company Infosys said Monday that one of its employees is trapped with other hostages in the Sydney café.
According to Zee News, the company released this statement:
We can confirm that one Infosys employee is among the hostages at the Lindt Cafe in Sydney. The family of the employee has been informed and we are extending all possible support to them in this difficult time. We are also in the process of confirming the whereabouts of all our other employees in the city. We are in constant touch with the local authorities and Indian Consulate in Sydney for updates on the situation on ground.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said earlier that he was told there may be an Indian IT professional being held.
As reported by the Times of India, the external affairs ministry is trying to get more information about the the crisis from the Australian police in charge of the hostage situation.
Earlier today, the Indian consulate in Sydney was evacuated, owing to the hostage situation, which is at a café near the consulate.
In the TOI report, ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in Delhi: "As a preventive measure in accordance with the local requirements, we have evacuated the staff from the Sydney Consulate building because it is located about 300–400 metres away from where this incident took place."
The Indian Consulate is reportedly in touch with the local authorities in Sydney and said consulate staffers are safe.
"Our consulate is in touch with local authorities. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has spoken to the high commissioner who is in touch with local organisations," Akbaruddin said in the TOI report.
He also added: "Such incidents are always difficult to handle but we have standard procedures which are in place in such matters. We have also set up a helpline and the deputy counsel general is available on +61481453550. In case anybody would like to know any information we will be providing that information. At this stage, all we can do is to keep in touch with local authorities and provide information as and when that is provided to us."
Earlier today, an armed assailant took a number of people hostage inside a café in Sydney.
