The Sydney hostage crisis has seen lawyers and courts evacuated in the King Street Courts in Sydney’s CBD, along with staff in the New South Wales Crown Solicitors’ office.
The siege and hostage-holding by at least one and probably at least two gunmen has seen the CBD area around the cafe occupied by the gunmen evacuated, including dozens of lawyers.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a number of prominent barristers’ chambers have also been evacuated, including the Seventh Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers in Martin Place and the Wentworth Chambers.
Other legal chambers such as Sir Owen Dixon have been locked down, along with dozens of government and commercial buildings in the blocks surrounding the siege, including the Reserve Bank and the NSW Department of Transport, the SMH reports.
Some staff say they have been moved out of their offices to the “safe” side of their buildings, away from the café in Martin Place.
Martin Place is a public pedestrian thoroughfare through the heart of Sydney, joining its parliamentary, legal and retail districts.
