Seven Men Arrested In Liverpool Had Idealogical Links To Bondi Gunmen

NSW Police arrested seven men on Thursday evening, who they believe have “extremist Islamic ideology” and may have been on their way to Bondi.

Heavily armed tactical operations police responded to “information received that a violent act was possibly being planned”, a spokesperson said.

“Police subsequently intercepted two cars as part of the investigation,” they continued. “As investigations continue, seven men are assisting police with their inquiries.”

The men were known to Victoria Police, with police saying they had travelled from interstate. No guns were found in either car, although officers did recover a knife.

Speaking on ABC Radio Sydney on Friday morning, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson said the men had idealogical connections to the two Bondi gunmen.

“We don’t have definitive links between the individuals who committed these atrocities on Sunday and this yesterday apart from potential commonality in some thinking, but no associations at this stage.

“We have some indication that Bondi was one of the locations they might be visiting yesterday but with no specific intent in mind or proven at this stage.”

The men were arrested under terrorism and national security legislation that allows law enforcement to detain and question suspects for up to a week before laying charges. The warrant expires at 7:30 Friday evening.

Hudson said officers “weren’t going to… take any chances” and acted “before they had the ability to obtain any further capability”.

“We made the decision that our tolerance for risk and threshold for risk is, as you can understand, very low at the moment following last Sunday’s atrocities.”

Police patrols continue across eastern suburbs

The arrests come as police continue proactive patrols at Bondi and other key locations as part of Operation Shelter, which was established in October 2023 to coordinate the gathering of intelligence and the response to protest activity, to ensure the safety of the community and reduce antisemitic and other hate crime activity.

Operation Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty, said the priority of the operation is to ensure the community feels safe and supported.

“There is no place in New South Wales for hate-related crimes or discrimination of any kind; anyone with intent to incite or cause fear, harm, or commit any criminal offence will be dealt with accordingly,” he said. 

“Police are dedicated to promoting social cohesion and ensuring all members of the public feels safe and supported.”

More than 751 taskings have been undertaken since last Sunday’s Bondi Beach terror attack, including at places of worship, transport hubs, and crowded places.