Sydney, Dec 16 (IANS): Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Tuesday laid flowers at a makeshift memorial here and mourned the death of the victims of the terror attack in which three people, including the gunman, were killed.

Accompanied by his wife Margie, the prime minister laid flowers at Martin Place in this Australian city, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

A gunman took over 30 people hostage at Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's bustling central business district Monday, days ahead of Christmas.

Three people, including the gunman, the cafe manager aged 34, and a woman barrister aged 38, were confirmed dead while four people were injured after a 16-hour hostage crisis ended Monday.

The prime minister and his wife left a bouquet each and a note before signing the condolence books set up on a trestle table at the side of the shrine.

The visit lasted only a few minutes and they didn't speak to anybody before returning to their cars. It's not known what they wrote in the books as organisers immediately took them off display.