Sydney, Dec 16 (IANS): Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Tuesday thanked and congratulated the New South Wales (NSW) police for the professionalism they have shown during the cafe hostage crisis here.

"I do want to thank and congratulate the NSW police for the professionalism they have shown at all time," Sydney Morning Herald quoted Abbott as saying.

"Everyone has been impressed by the speed of the NSW response, the thoroughness of the preparation they made and the professionalism of the action they took once it became obvious those people inside the cage were being taken out by the deluded and sick individual," the prime minister said.

Every Sydneysider can feel quietly proud about how their city has handled the crisis.

The gunman, Lindt Chocolat Cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, and barrister Katrina Dawson, 38, were killed while four people were injured after a 16-hour hostage crisis -- the first terror attack in Australia -- ended early Tuesday with police storming a cafe in the heart of Sydney, authorities said.

An armed man took over 20 people hostage inside Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's central business district Monday.