Two vehicles were intercepted in southern Sydney on Thursday in connection with a planned violent act, with New South Wales Police noting that at this point no connection to the Bondi Beach massacre was identified.
Seven men were detained by police in Liverpool, acting on a tip about a violent act being planned. No official arrests were announced, but the Australian Broadcasting Corporation shared photographs of men zip-tied and overseen by armed officers in tactical gear.
Bondi Ties unconfirmed by police
Sky News and other local outlets reported that the men were on their way from Victoria to Bondi Beach, but police said that they had not yet connected the investigation to the Sunday terrorist attack on a Hanukkah party.
“At this point in time, police have not identified any connection to the current police investigation of the Bondi terror attack,” said NSW police.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in a Canberra press conference earlier Thursday that in the coming days, the NSW Joint Counterterrorism Team would execute further warrants to support the Bondi massacre investigation.
“There is a lot of material to be examined, and the AFP continues to work with both domestic and international partners to build a more complete picture of the movements and who the alleged offenders had contact with, both in Australia and offshore,” said Barrett.
The AFP is also investigating “hate preachers,” reviewing information on people who “spew hatred and cause fear.”
Fifteen people were murdered and 40 wounded in the Sunday Bondi Beach massacre conducted by a father and son terrorist team. The 50-year-old father was killed by police during the attack, and the 24-year-old son was hospitalised.
The two had attacked a Chabad candle lighting event with bolt action rifles and shotguns, and had placed two improvised explosive devices that had to be disarmed by officers.
Fifty-nine charges were filed against the Bonnyrigg resident on Wednesday, for terrorism, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing bodily harm, discharge of firearms with the intent to harm, display of terrorist symbols, and laying explosives with the intent to harm.