The NSW police commissioner has joined Sydneysiders at a makeshift memorial near Martin Place honouring the two hostages who lost their lives in the Lindt cafe siege.
Andrew Scipione arrived at the scene just before 9.30am on Tuesday.
He stood and looked at the floral tributes laid by members of the public and paused for a moment of silence before leaving.
"I don't think I could be sadder," he said.
"Having said that, I'm incredibly proud of our police and what we've done."
Hostage-taker and self-declared Muslim sheik Man Haron Monis walked into the cafe on Monday morning and held 17 people in a 16-hour siege.
The grey Sydney sky matched the mood among the group gathered at the makeshift memorial.
'This is something that's distressed every Australian, it doesn't matter what background you're from'
Long faces, glassy eyes, bowed heads and people with tightly crossed arms, almost hugging themselves, consoled each other near Martin Place.
Office worker Hetal stood, head bowed, observing the memorial.
His Martin Place office was one of the many that was put into lockdown on Monday.
The 35-year-old told SBS he didn't sleep all night and followed the coverage of the siege.
"It's just devastating. I came here to offer my prayers, give a moment's silence," he said.
"My family and I, we have experience of this from Mumbai, the terrorist attacks there.
"You just don't expect it in Sydney, we're so far away from it all."
Lawyer Lydia Shelly, who helped set up the 'Islamophobia register', told SBS that the tragic event would unite the community, and won't let Australians "fall into fear or mistrust."
"We’re here to pay our respects for lives lost," she said.
"This is something that's distressed every Australian, it doesn't matter what background you're from."
Ms Shelly said she has been "overwhelmed" by the support from Australia and overseas for the Muslim community.
"They know that this doesn't represent Islam, it doesn't represent Muslims in this country," she said.
"Australians are going to rise up. They're not going to fall into fear or mistrust. They're going to use this opportunity to strengthen their bonds with each other."
Skye McParland, who works nearby, laid single pink roses at Martin Place with two friends.
"We wander past this area every day," she said.
"It’s just shocking that this could happen to people who could’ve been us."
Another worker, Margot Anderson, also laid flowers.
"We were hoping for a good outcome," she told SBS.
"It’s a very weird eerie feeling.
"It’s not Sydney, this doesn’t happen in Sydney."
Premier Mike Baird announced flags on all NSW government buildings, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, will fly at half-mast on Tuesday to honour those who lost their lives at the cafe.
"Today the people of NSW and Australia have the heaviest of hearts and we are taking steps to allow the community to share our collective grief," Mr Baird said.
"Overnight we lost two of our own people, in an attack we thought we'd never see here in our city.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has since announced that flags will fly half-mast on all commonwealth government buildings.
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