(VOVworld) – Australian police confirmed Tuesday that the gunman and two of his hostages died in a hostage situation in downtown Sydney. New South Wales state police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters that, after storming into the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place, commandos threw flash grenades and began shooting once a majority of the café staff and customers had escaped. Police exchanged gunfire with the hostage taker who was killed in the exchange.

A hostage runs towards a police officer outside Lindt cafe, where other hostages are being held. (Photo: Reuters)

Scipione said the hostage-taking was motivated by personal reasons. According to a former lawyer of the gunman, the incident was likely not related to organized terrorism.

The gunman was Man Haron Monis, a 50-year-old Iranian refugee.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham strongly condemned the hostage-taking in Sydney and said resorting to inhumane actions and creating terror and panic in the name of Islam is not justifiable under any circumstances.