NSW Police say Victorian men arrested on way to Bondi could be released with hours
“They will continue to be monitored while they are in NSW and we will work closely with our Victorian and Commonwealth law enforcement partners.”
Police believe the men traveled to Liverpool from Victoria and “potentially” arrived on Wednesday, according to Lanyon.
Other than a knife, no weapons or firearms were found in the hatchback vehicles, and Lanyon said there was no available evidence to suggest the group had set out to supply weapons. Police were unaware of the motive behind any possible attack.
Earlier Friday, Hudson said he expected charges to be filed against some people in the group, while others could be released.
“When you’re investigating, there’s a balance for investigators and counter-terrorism police between intervening at a time when you can mitigate all the risks and threats, which we did yesterday, or waiting until you have a brief piece of evidence that you can present to the court against people who have bows on them,” Hudson said.
The men lined up after their arrest.Credit: instagram
The white hatchback was stopped at the intersection of George and Campbell streets in Liverpool.Credit: instagram
Hudson said he had “significant concern” about the possibility of another public attack and that extraordinary tactics to detain the men were “the most appropriate tactic for the circumstances.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was “hugely concerned” about the possibility of further acts of terrorism following the Bondi attack but was encouraged by the swift action police took against the seven men on Thursday.
“You can see that they [police] Minns said: “I don’t think anyone in NSW wants them around. If they perceive a threat now or in the future they will take immediate action.”
He also encouraged Australians to press ahead with their plans over the summer, saying such action would amount to “a challenge to these terrorists”.
“I think you saw this morning at Bondi that there are millions of Australians who will not cower in the face of terrorism, and that’s a great thing.”
Members of the Bondi community row and swim into the ocean to pay tribute to those killed and injured on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
In a statement shortly after 8.15pm on Thursday, NSW Police said the operation had been completed and there was no ongoing risk to the community.
“Police have not identified any link to the current police investigation into the Bondi terror attack,” the statement said.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the investigation exemplified the “high threat environment” in which police operate.
“The public can be confident that police will act quickly and decisively. Yesterday afternoon was a clear example of that,” Barrett said on Friday morning.
In the images published on social media, five men were seen lying on the road and pavement. The footage shows a man whose head appears to be bleeding. Later images show him bandaged. Bean bag bullets were reportedly used to take the men into custody.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed state police were supporting the NSW investigation into the movements of the seven men but refused to release further information about the incident.
Allan said on Friday morning: “We have all seen footage and footage of what happened… but at this stage there is not enough information to speculate as to why these people were traveling in this vehicle in this vicinity.”
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