From Sky News Australia the Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald
Counter terrorism police have arrested seven men in Liverpool who were understood to be on their way to Bondi.
New South Wales Police received intelligence the individuals had travelled from Melbourne and were intending to go to Bondi Beach.
It is understood police took a cautious approach to the intelligence, given the climate in the wake of the Bondi terror attack on Sunday evening.
Nonetheless, dramatic scenes played out in Sydney’s south-west as heavily armed officers discharged multiple rounds of rubber bullets and rammed a white Hyundai to the side of the road following a traffic stop.
A second vehicle, which reportedly had a Victorian provisional license visible on the front seat, was also intercepted a short distance away.
Police are understood to have fired beanbag rounds at the vehicle before making the arrests, following a tip-off from intelligence services.
Two men were detained face down on the road behind a vehicle, while images and footage from bystanders at the scene showed several others lined up on the footpath seated or on their knees with their hands zip-tied behind their backs.
Multiple armed and heavily armoured officers stood guard behind the group.
Krissy Barrett, the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, said more raids were expected following the Bondi Beach terror attack last Sunday, in which 15 people were killed.
“Tactical Operations police responded to information received that a violent act was possibly being planned,” NSW Police said in a statement. “Police subsequently intercepted two cars as part of the investigation. As investigations continue, seven men are assisting police with their inquiries. At this point in time, police have not identified any connection to the current police investigation of the Bondi terror attack.”
Sources with knowledge of the unfolding operation, not permitted to speak publicly, said a weapon may have been found in the car, though that was unconfirmed. . . The group was flagged because they were known to authorities in Victoria, sources said.
