7 men arrested in Sydney for planning possible 'violent act', believed to share Bondi gunmen's extremist ideology

The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force intercepted two cars and arrested seven men in southwestern Sydney on Dec. 18 (Sydney time).

In a statement, the NSW police said they launched the operation in response to information received that "a violent act was possibly being planned".

"As investigations continue, seven men are assisting police with their inquiries," read the statement.

ABC News Australia reported that it understands the men were still in custody as of Dec. 19 morning (Sydney time).

Recent media reports suggest the men might be released soon.

Might be heading to Bondi Beach

On Dec. 19, NSW police commissioner Mal Lanyon revealed that information received indicated that Bondi might have been one of the locations the males were travelling to, reported ABC News.

On Dec. 14, a mass shooting took place at Bondi Beach, killing 15 civilians and injuring another 42.

While the reason behind the seven men's visit and the potential threat posed by them remain unknown, Lanyon said NSW police decided to interdict as they were "not prepared to tolerate the risk".

According to photos and videos capturing the scene of the arrest, tactical police intercepted one of the cars the men were travelling in by ramming into its side.

Five men could be seen sitting on the pedestrian sidewalk with their hands behind their backs, surrounded by four tactical police officers.

ABC News also reported that it understands a knife was seized during a search after the arrest.

No confirmed link between arrest & mass shooting

In its statement, the NSW police said that they had yet to identify any connection between the Dec. 18 arrest and the ongoing police investigation into the Bondi Beach mass shooting on Dec. 14.

On Dec. 19, Lanyon affirmed that there was no confirmed link between the seven men and the mass shooting, reported SBS News.

However, the commissioner said that the police would be looking at "radical Islamic extremism as one of the ideologies behind these males".

Deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly 30 years

The Dec. 14 attack was said to be the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since 1996.

Amongst the victims were a 10-year-old girl and 87-year-old Alexander Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor and a Rabbi, reported ABC News.

A 22-year-old probationary police officer was also shot in the head and shoulder while protecting civilians during the incident.

As a result, the police officer, Jack Hibbert, lost sight in one of his eyes.

The two gunmen had since been identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24.

Sajid was shot dead by the police during a gunfire exchange at the scene, while Naveed was hospitalised under police supervision.

On Dec. 17, ABC News reported that Naveed had been handed 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

If convicted, Naveed could face life imprisonment.

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Top images via Kevin Hogan MP/Facebook & ABC News Australia/YouTube