Journalist Chris Reason Tweets Sydney Cafe Hostage Drama

Police have allowed me back into Martin Place newsroom - gunman is clear - white shirt, black cap, unshaven, holds poss pump action shotgun

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014

From inside Martin Place newsroom, we've counted around 15 hostages - not 50 - mix of women, men, young, old - but no children.

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014

From inside Martin Place newsroom we can see gunman is rotating hostages, forcing them to stand against windows, sometimes 2 hours at a time

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014

From inside Martin Place we can see the faces of hostages - pained, strained, eyes red and raw. One young am with head in hands

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014

From inside the Martin Place newsroom - we can see food is being delivered to the hostages. Staff bringing it out from kitchen at back

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014

When the 5 hostages escaped, the gunman could be seen from here getting extremely agitated, shouting at remaining hostages

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014

Still complete darkness at the Lindt Cafe, but you can just make out the black extremist flag being held up in the window

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014

Very little movement at the Lindt Cafe. One person, we believe to be the gunman, walking toward back office. He is carrying an iPad

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014

There's been movement at the cafe, the gunman moving a hostage past the window, two more hostages change positions. Not much sleep in there

— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) December 15, 2014