Swiss confectionery company Lindt & Sprungli has said it will support the victims and their families of the siege at its Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Martin Place.
Steven Loane, the CEO of Lindt & Sprungli in Australia said: “Lindt & Sprüngli will provide any support to the victims and their families, and indeed to all our employees affected by this event. We are grateful for the support we received from the public in Australia and from all around the world.”
Ernst Tanner, the chairman and group CEO of Lindt & Sprungli said he was “shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible incident that has taken place in Sydney”.
“I cannot believe that such an act of violence happened. I would like to express my deepest sympathy 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.
“Our immediate concerns are for the innocent people who were taken hostage in a place which was chosen in such a random way. We are thankful that most of the hostages who were involved in this terrible criminal act were freed by the intervention of the NSW Police Forces and would like to thank them for their service.”
Lindt & Sprüngli also said in a statement on Facebook that as the hostage-taking in its Café in Sydney came to an end, the company was “profoundly saddened and deeply affected about the death of innocent people”.
“We are devastated by the loss of their lives and that several others were wounded and had to experience such trauma. Our thoughts and feelings are with the victims and their families who have been through an incredible ordeal, and we want to pay tribute to their courage and bravery.”
The siege ended early this morning with three dead, including Sydney barrister Katrina Dawson, the daughter of former Arnott's managing director and CEO, Alexander Dawson, and the manager of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe, Tori Johnson.
