SYDNEY - Police have stormed a cafe in central Sydney early Tuesday morning, ending the siege of a gunman who held more than a dozen hostages for more than 16 hours.

They fired automatic weapons and threw grenades moments after remaining captives were seen fleeing.

The dramatic end stage of the siege came as the gunman holding the remaining captives was revealed as a self-proclaimed Islamic cleric Man Haron Monis.

A Sydney Morning Herald reporter, who was near the scene, said: "Police and paramedics have stormed the building. Dozens of continuous bangs and possibly gun shots have lit up the sky."

Multiple shots had been fired, reported the newspaper, adding that paramedics appeared to be entering the Lindt Cafe, accompanied by police.