IGX

ABC News is following a siege in Sydney's CBD in which a number of people have been taken hostage.

At least three people can be seen through the windows of a cafe in Martin Place with their hands raised.

An Islamic flag has also been seen hanging in the window of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe.

Ray Hadley, a presenter at 2GB radio station, is saying the hostage takers want to talk to the prime minister, Tony Abbott, live on air.

syaigh wrote: I hope a police sniper gets them in his sights very quickly.

Smet wrote:

syaigh wrote: I hope a police sniper gets them in his sights very quickly.

Until the next time? I hope the manage to talk and negotiate.

This guy is right, it's probably just the beginning.

Luke wrote:To the guy on here who thought the raids in Sept. were bogus...yep good one.

My building is locked up.

A man who was shot outside an Islamic prayer centre in Sydney's west was targeted as he locked up the building following a night observing the holy ritual of Ashura, one of the most important holidays for Shiite Muslims, according to a community member.

Witnesses claimed that a number of people had driven past the Husainiyah Nabi Akram centre on Rosedale Avenue in Greenacre just hours before the shooting, chanting in Arabic that "ISIS is coming" and "ISIS will stay".

On Monday, as the police surrounded a cafe in Sydney, Australia, where an armed individual was holding hostages, Uber began raising rates. The move, which the company calls surge pricing, is governed by an algorithm and occurs whenever demand spikes for rides in an area. The idea is that higher rates give drivers incentive to fill the demand.

With the authorities cordoning off part of the city’s central business district, many who were stranded in the area were forced to pay roughly four times the normal rate

dead man walking wrote:let's not overlook the smooth functioning of the free market:

On Monday, as the police surrounded a cafe in Sydney, Australia, where an armed individual was holding hostages, Uber began raising rates. The move, which the company calls surge pricing, is governed by an algorithm and occurs whenever demand spikes for rides in an area. The idea is that higher rates give drivers incentive to fill the demand.

With the authorities cordoning off part of the city’s central business district, many who were stranded in the area were forced to pay roughly four times the normal rate

We are all concerned with the events happening in Sydney.

Uber Sydney will be providing free rides out of the CBD to help Sydneysiders get home safely.

Our thoughts are with those affected and the NSW Police Force.

We are in the process of refunding rides. If you have been charged during these hours leaving the CBD please email [email protected].

Please note that surge pricing is used to encourage more drivers to come online and pick up passengers from the area.

Updates will follow on Twitter – @Uber_Sydney

*Maximum one trip per person

Bob Wildes wrote:Is it true that Australia does not have a death penalty?

baffled wrote:

dead man walking wrote:let's not overlook the smooth functioning of the free market:

On Monday, as the police surrounded a cafe in Sydney, Australia, where an armed individual was holding hostages, Uber began raising rates. The move, which the company calls surge pricing, is governed by an algorithm and occurs whenever demand spikes for rides in an area. The idea is that higher rates give drivers incentive to fill the demand.

With the authorities cordoning off part of the city’s central business district, many who were stranded in the area were forced to pay roughly four times the normal rate

Snark?

Also, Uber started giving free rides to those in Sydney: http://blog.uber.com/sydneysiege

We are all concerned with the events happening in Sydney.

Uber Sydney will be providing free rides out of the CBD to help Sydneysiders get home safely.

Our thoughts are with those affected and the NSW Police Force.

We are in the process of refunding rides. If you have been charged during these hours leaving the CBD please email [email protected].

Please note that surge pricing is used to encourage more drivers to come online and pick up passengers from the area.

Updates will follow on Twitter – @Uber_Sydney

*Maximum one trip per person

dead man walking wrote:

baffled wrote:

dead man walking wrote:let's not overlook the smooth functioning of the free market:

On Monday, as the police surrounded a cafe in Sydney, Australia, where an armed individual was holding hostages, Uber began raising rates. The move, which the company calls surge pricing, is governed by an algorithm and occurs whenever demand spikes for rides in an area. The idea is that higher rates give drivers incentive to fill the demand.

With the authorities cordoning off part of the city’s central business district, many who were stranded in the area were forced to pay roughly four times the normal rate

Snark?

Also, Uber started giving free rides to those in Sydney: http://blog.uber.com/sydneysiege

We are all concerned with the events happening in Sydney.

Uber Sydney will be providing free rides out of the CBD to help Sydneysiders get home safely.

Our thoughts are with those affected and the NSW Police Force.

We are in the process of refunding rides. If you have been charged during these hours leaving the CBD please email [email protected].

Please note that surge pricing is used to encourage more drivers to come online and pick up passengers from the area.

Updates will follow on Twitter – @Uber_Sydney

*Maximum one trip per person

after they got criticized for their predatory pricing, they pretended to be socially concerned

During the hostage situation, rideshare and taxi service company Uber turned on their surge pricing for customers leaving the area surrounding the hostage scene. The surge charged customers a minimum of $100 Australian Dollars to leave.

The company, which has come under fire for its surge-pricing tactics as of late, including its decision to raise prices during 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, has defended the practice, stating it encourages drivers to flock to areas with high demand.

Still, Uber backpedalled within an hour of publication of customer complaints. Uber went a step further, informing riders they could get a refund if they paid a higher fare by emailing Sydney support.