Delhi Police alert to the security needs of the city, says BS Bassi

Following the ongoing hostage crisis in Sydney, the Delhi Police on Monday beefed up the security in the national capital and stated that it was alert to any threats to the city's safety.

"We are always alert to the security needs of the city, and all the necessary steps have been taken to ensure the same," Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi told ANI.

Bassi, however, refused to confirm reports of the city being put on high alert.

The police commissioner was reacting to the ongoing situation in Sydney, where an armed man had earlier in the day taken an undisclosed number of people hostage at the Martin Place Cafe and displayed a black flag with Arabic script in the window, sparking a security alert in that country.

According to reports, the local police have surrounded the besieged cafe in Sydney and have made contact with the gunman. Five of those captured have reportedly have managed to escape. Meanwhile, media reports state that the authorities in Australia have sealed off the surrounding streets in the city and have evacuated people from buildings and suspended rail services following the incident.