It should have been a busy shopping day, just 10 days from Christmas.

But hours after several people were taken hostage in a cafe in Martin Place,
the streets around Sydney's central business district were deserted of cars
and much of the retail sector had closed down.
There was no panic on the streets but there was a sense of unease.
Staff were evacuated from buildings adjoining that of the Lindt cafe, where
people are believed to have been taken hostage, and companies blocks away
from the scene were telling their staff not to leave their offices.
There were dozens of police cars and police vans at the scene, with more
arriving as each hour passed.
At one point, heavily armed police wearing body armour were seen running
away from the building only to return about five minutes later. They then
surrounded a door that led from the building onto Elizabeth Street.
There is a very heavy police presence in the small area around Martin Place
Several city blocks were barred by police cars and tape, and from time to time
sirens could be heard.

Surreal atmosphere
The area around the siege is home to many of New South Wales' most
important institutions including the NSW Parliament, the State Library of NSW
and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The Supreme Court of NSW is a block away and the area is full of law
chambers and solicitors offices.
Martin Place divides Sydney's central business district east-west so the siege
disrupted traffic in several directions. Trains on the Eastern suburbs line could
not stop at Martin Place.
The atmosphere in Martin Place itself was surreal. Office workers who had
been evacuated from their buildings, construction workers from building sites
and tourists packed the pedestrian plaza one block away from the