How to save all the citizens in the first Masyaf key mission

assassins-creed-revelations

In the first Masyaf key mission in Assassin's Creed: Revelations, I have to save all citizens in order to achieve 100% synchronization.

Are they before the gate and the crusader? Or do I have to somehow make sure the crusader doesn't kill more hostages than necessary?

Who do I have to save and how?

Best Answer

This confused me as well. The citizens are before the gate.
What you need to do is run around the area you start at, looking for small black circles on your minimap, these mark areas where templars are attacking a citizen, simply go there and kill them off, when you took care of all of these you'll see the message for optional objective completed.