Owners of Sydney siege cafe Lindt 'devastated' by deaths

Sydney: Swiss chocolate-maker Lindt, the owner of the Sydney cafe at the centre of a day-long siege Monday that ended in the deaths of the gunman and two of his hostages, said it was "devastated" by the outcome of the standoff.

"We are devastated by the loss of their lives and that several others were wounded and had to experience such trauma," Lindt said in a statement.

Iranian-born hostage-taker Man Haron Monis, who was granted political asylum in Australia in 1996, was killed along with two of his 17 hostages when police dramatically stormed the Lindt chocolate cafe in the city`s financial district to end the siege.

The deceased hostages were a 34-year-old man and 38-year-old woman.

"I`m shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible incident that has taken place in Sydney," said Ernst Tanner, the chairman and group CEO of Lindt & Spruengli.

"I cannot believe that such an act of violence happened," he said, offering his condolences to the victims and their families.

"In these difficult times, we all need to stand together in order to defend the values of freedom, peace and tolerance."

The chocolatier said it would offer support to the victims and their families, as well as any employees affected by the event.