Three people have died after a siege in a Sydney cafe came to a dramatic end yesterday when armed police stormed the building.

Man Haron Monis was an Iranian refugee known for sending hate mail to the families of Australian soldiers killed overseas and facing several charges of sexual assault.

A number of Australian news outlets quoting local sources have reported that two people, including the hostage taker, have died in the siege of a café in central Sydney.

Several more hostages have fled the scene of the Sydney cafe siege amid the sound of gunfire and loud explosions.