The Daily Telegraph scrambled to produce a special print edition as the 17-hour hostage situation unfolded in the heart of the Sydney CBD.

The Sydney tabloid daily newspaper produced an extra limited print run of its Monday paper at 2pm yesterday with an updated front and back cover, plus the story on page two, reporting on the beginning of the Martin Place café holdup.

It also updated the cover and first few pages of its 5am edition from the midnight first edition, both with 16 pages of special wraparound coverage, to include details of the dramatic conclusion as they emerged.

Related: Newspapers in flux]

Police stormed the Lindt café where 17 hostages were being held at 2.11am this morning with official details not appearing until 5am, too late to include in the first midnight edition.

The special coverage, with dramatic and controversial front page headlines, included detailed coverage of the events so far, background on gunman Man Haron Monis, and what are likely to be award-winning large colour photos.

Fairfax daily newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald did not publish any standalone special editions, but added a 12-page wraparound to its usual morning paper.

News Corp Australia, which publishes the Daily Telegraph, plans to begin a pilot program at its Brisbane plant to produce newspapers with digital print systems, which if expanded nationwide could make special editions like this quicker to produce and therefore more common.

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