US Secretary of State John Kerry says "our friends in Sydney are especially on our minds," and has offered to assist Australia as investigations continue into the fatal siege in which two hostages were killed.
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Speaking in London, Mr Kerry said the United States' own "face to face" experiences of "horrific violence" on home soil meant Americans could empathise with Australians.
"We know in a very personal way what our ally Australia is going through at this very moment. And we grieve with Australia and with the families of all those terrorised, injured, and killed," he said.
Mr Kerry on Tuesday phoned Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who was dining with the Autonomous Bougainville Government in Papua New Guinea at the time.
He said he told her United States stands ready to provide "whatever appropriate assistance we can as Australian authorities determine the facts of the case, assist the victims, and hold accountable anyone and everyone responsible for this act of terror".
Ms Bishop told Fairfax Media that Mr Kerry expressed his "deepest sympathies to the victims and their families" and "solidarity with the Australian people as our nations stand against extremism and terrorism".
Ms Bishop said she had also received calls and messages of support from foreign ministers around the globe.
Appearing at a Common's committee hearing in London, British Prime Minister David Cameron began by paying tribute to the victims and the heroism of the two victims, Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson and lawyer Katrina Dawson, both of whom are reported to have saved fellow hostages lives with their actions.
"In Australia, tales of extraordinary bravery and sacrifice are now being told about what happened in that cafe. That is what we would expect from the people of that remarkable and great country," he said.
"Our thoughts are with them," Mr Cameron told MPs.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a series of tweets that he had spoken to Prime MInister Tony Abbott also on Tuesday night.
Had a telephone conversation with PM
@TonyAbbottMHR on the hostage crisis in Sydney. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
December 16, 2014
2 innocent people lost their lives in the hostage crisis. My deepest condolences to their families. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
December 16, 2014
He appeared to credit Mr Abbott's "leadership" with resolving the hostage situation, which ended with police storming the Lindt cafe after gunfire was heard as hostages tried to escape as the gunman Man Haron Monis reportedly began to fall asleep.
Appreciated PM
@TonyAbbottMHR's leadership that led to resolving of the crisis & release of the hostages, which included 2 Indians. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
December 16, 2014
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key was one of the first world leaders to contact Mr Abbott to convey their support.
I've contacted Prime Minister
@TonyAbbottMHR to let him know our thoughts are with the people of Australia today. — John Key (@johnkeypm)
December 15, 2015
We continue to monitor the situation in
#Sydney closely. I've been in touch with
@JulieBishopMP and expressed our thoughts and prayers. — John Baird (@Baird)
December 15, 2014