‘Terrifying outcomes’: Fresh fears after dramatic arrest days after Bondi terror attack
A dramatic arrest by heavily armed police on a Sydney street could spark new fears in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, politicians have warned.
Seven men were assisting police after tactical officers crashed a white Hyundai i-30 and fired multiple rubber bullets at a traffic stop at the intersection of George and Campbell streets in Liverpool.
A second vehicle, a Toyota Yaris with Victorian registration plates, was also stopped a few minutes away but did not suffer serious damage.
In a statement, NSW Police said Tactical Operations police responded to “information that violent action was possibly being planned”.
“Police later seized two cars as part of the investigation,” the spokesman said.
“While investigations are ongoing, seven people are assisting police with their investigations.
“At this point police have been unable to identify any link to the current police investigation into the Bondi terror attack.
Video of the arrest shows a tactical officer standing over the men, holding his gun, as the group lies on the side of the road before another officer handcuffs them.
At least one of the men is seen in the video with blood on his face.
Liberal MP Tim Wilson said although details were not yet clear, “people’s minds are logically drawn to dire conclusions”.
“Police do not dispatch vehicles lightly. They do not have counter-terrorism forces that can dispatch such vehicles lightly,” he told Today.
“It is clearly said that they have serious intelligence and will take action.”
Health Minister Mark Butler said the footage of the arrest was “extraordinary”.
“As we all mourn and our nation tries to come to terms with what happened Sunday night, they serve as a reminder that our police intelligence officials are still working around the clock to protect our country from the threat of further violence and harm,” he said.
