9.45am - Gunman seizes a cafe in Sydney's central CBD Martin Place.

10.10am - First images appear to show hostages inside the cafe - their hands in the air in surrender.

10.15am - Police establish a 150m exclusion zone, nearby buildings evacuated, Martin Place underground train station closed.

10.45am - Sydney Opera House evacuated, police investigate reports of a suspicious package found unrelated to siege.

11.25am - The Australian government convenes National Security Committee of Cabinet in Canberra.

11.40am - Sydney Channel Seven airs pictures of gunman inside cafe - appears to be middle-aged with a headband.

12.00pm - Radio station 2GB says gunman claims he has "devices all over the city" and wants to "speak with the Prime Minister live on radio".

12.55pm - Prime Minister Tony Abbott says there are indications of political motivation in gunman's action.

1.30pm - All Lindt stores elsewhere around Australia close.

2.45pm - Lindt uses Facebook to thank the public for support

3.35pm - Three men, including one Lindt employee, run from the cafe.

5.00pm - Two female Lindt workers run from the cafe.

8.30pm - Cafe in darkness after gunman orders hostage to switch lights off.

2.08am - Multiple hostages shown running out of the cafe.

2.15am - Loud gunshots heard. Police storm the cafe.

2.18am - More gunshots heard. More hostages run out.

2.26am - Hostages are seen being carried out of the cafe.

2.31am - New South Wales police say the siege is over.

5.48 am - Police confirm three people are dead: two hostages - a 34-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman - and the hostage-taker. Six people including two pregnant women are wounded.

*All times in Sydney time