#BREAKINGNEWS: Seven Detained in Sydney Tactical Raid Near Bondi Beach
Seven men aged 19–24 detained in Sydney; police recover knife amid post-Bondi Beach security operations.
New South Wales Police detained seven men in Sydney's southwest suburb of Liverpool after receiving intelligence indicating a possible planned violent act. Tactical officers intercepted two vehicles in a high-risk operation, with reports suggesting the men, travelling from Victoria, may have been heading towards Bondi Beach. Authorities recovered a knife but no other significant weapons and emphasised that no direct connection has been established to the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.
The operation involved heavily armed officers ramming one vehicle and restraining the men, aged between 19 and 24, who were subsequently taken into custody for questioning under national security provisions. Deputy Commissioner David Hudson stated that investigators believe the group adheres to an extremist Islamic ideology similar to that of the Bondi gunmen, though no associations or definitive links have been confirmed. Police acted preemptively due to heightened risk tolerance being low in the current environment.
This incident follows the December 14 mass shooting at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration, where father-and-son gunmen Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram allegedly killed 15 people and injured dozens in an ISIS-inspired antisemitic terrorist attack. That event, Australia's deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, targeted a Jewish community gathering and prompted nationwide mourning and tightened security measures.
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While police have indicated some intelligence pointed to Bondi as a potential destination for the detained men, the specific intent remains unknown. No charges were immediately laid, and the men were expected to be released if insufficient evidence emerged. Authorities reassured the public that there is no ongoing threat related to this operation.
The arrests underscore elevated vigilance across Australia amid investigations into the Bondi attack and broader concerns over extremism. Counter-terrorism teams continue probes, with additional search warrants anticipated as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the earlier tragedy.
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