Counter-terrorism police arrested seven suspects with “Middle Eastern appearances” in Liverpool, located in the southwestern area of Sydney, after receiving intelligence tips that they were on the way from Melbourne to Bondi Beach, Australian media outlets reported on Thursday.

The vehicle carrying the police officers rammed into a white hatchback to stop the men.

7NEWS Sydney described the scene: “A white hatchback was rammed by a vehicle with heavily armed officers. They pulled five men out of a car and quickly got them on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs. Two people were then pulled out of another car and arrested.”

The police later issued a statement saying that the arrests were made after information was received that a violent act was possibly being planned. The statement noted that the incident has no known connection to the probe of the Bondi beach massacre.

“Police have not identified any connection to the current police investigation of the Bondi terror attack,” the statement said.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)