Heavily armed counter-terrorism police have dramatically arrested seven men in southwest Sydney after receiving information about a potential act of violence, only to release them without charge more than a day later.
Video taken by members of the public showed Tactical Operations police taking the men, who were of Middle Eastern and Indian subcontinental appearance, into custody on George Street, Liverpool, on Thursday afternoon.
NSW Police said in a statement officers were responding to information that a “violent act was possibly being planned”, and then intercepted two cars.
“At this point in time, police have not identified any connection to the current police investigation of the Bondi terror attack,” police said after the arrests on Thursday.
On Friday morning Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Dave Hudson said in radio interviews with 2GB and ABC no guns were found, but that police had a Commonwealth detention warrant allowing them to hold the men until 7.30pm.
“I can confirm no firearms or weapons were located at a vehicle stop, so I think that supports the decision to go early before any potential weapons could be obtained by this crew,” he said, and confirmed police believe the men had driven from Melbourne and were travelling to Bondi beach.
“We are operating in an environment where our tolerance for threat and risk is very low. I can assure you that the matter is very much under control.”
All seven were then released from Liverpool Police Station on Friday afternoon.
The footage indicates police may have used their vehicles to ram a Hyundai i30 with Victorian plates, and non-lethal beanbag rounds are believed to have been used, leaving holes in the back windscreen.
The other car, a blue hatchback also with Victorian plates, was stopped in a laneway.
Header image: Left, right, the men being arrested.
