Bondi Beach capturing LIVE updates: Seven males dramatically arrested by anti-terrorism cops could possibly be RELEASED inside hours – as police probe extremist Islamic ideology hyperlink to the alleged Bondi gunmen

Seven men arrested in a dramatic counter-terrorism operation in Sydney’s south-west may soon be released as police consider whether there is justification to keep them in custody.

Tactical officers intercepted two vehicles near Liverpool’s busy Westfield shopping centre on Thursday, arresting five men in one car and two in another.

One of the group is understood to have been under active investigation by ASIO.

While investigators believe the group may share extremist views similar to the alleged Bondi Beach attackers, there is no direct link to the Bondi terror probe.

The men are understood to have travelled from Victoria and were known to police.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters on Friday that the men were detained after intelligence suggested a ‘violent act was possibly being planned’.

‘The justification for their ongoing detention no longer exists unless new evidence emerges,’ he said.

‘We will have to release the men if we don’t have sufficient evidence.’

Police say Bondi Beach was among several locations mentioned by the group, but their intentions remain unclear.

Authorities will continue monitoring the men in NSW and liaise with Victorian and Commonwealth agencies.

Australia’s intelligence service has discovered a video that reinforces Sunday’s attack was inspired by Islamic State.

The revelation was confirmed by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a press conference in Canberra.

‘Today, we’ve been informed that the Office of National Intelligence has identified a regular online video feed from ISIS that reinforces that this was an ISIS-inspired attack,’ he said.

‘Further work is being done by the security agencies around motivation, and we’ll continue to meet and provide them with whatever support they need at this difficult time.’

It comes after Islamic State praised the alleged Bondi terrorists as ‘lions’ and a ‘source of pride’ overnight in a news bulletin, while encouraging future attacks.

The terrorist group stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack but claimed the two suspects may have been ‘inspired’ by its teachings.

Anthony Albanese will launch a national buyback scheme to collect and destroy newly banned and illegal firearms from Australian gun owners.

The Prime Minister said the scheme will be the ‘largest buyback since the Howard government initiated one in 1996’.

“Australia’s gun laws were substantially reformed after the Port Arthur tragedy. The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets,’ he told reporters from Canberra on Friday.

‘We know that one of these terrorists held a firearm licence and had six guns, in spite of living in the middle of Sydney’s suburbs, at Bonnyrigg.

‘There’s no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns. There are now more than four million firearms in Australia – more than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre nearly 30 years ago.’

Albanese said the government will meet the costs on a 50-50 basis with states and territories. The Australian Federal Police will be responsible for destroying the guns.

‘We expect hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed through this scheme,’ he said.

“Consistent with the approach that was taken in 1996, the government is proposing that states and territories will be responsible for the collection, processing, and payment to individuals for surrendered firearms.’

Pictured is the giant pile of prohibited firearms bought back by the Australian government after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

The seven men intercepted and arrested by NSW Police in a southwest Sydney suburb last night shared the same ‘extremist Islamic ideology’ as the alleged Bondi Beach gunmen.

Heavily-armed officers intercepted two cars and arrested the group in a dramatic counter-terrorism operation at the intersection of George and Campbell streets, in the suburb of Liverpool.

It’s understood the group, who were known to police, had been travelling to Bondi Beach from Melbourne.

‘We have some indication that Bondi was one of the locations they might be visiting yesterday but with no specific intent in mind or proven at this stage,’ Deputy Commissioner David Hudson told 702 ABC Radio Sydney.

Asked whether the men had links to extremist Islamic ideology, he said: ‘That’s our belief at this stage, yes.’

The 15th victim the Bondi Beach tragedy has been identified as eastern suburbs woman Tania Tretiak.

It’s understood Ms Tretiak, from Randwick, was attending the Hanukkah by the Sea celebration where she was fatally shot.

Other victims include Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, 39, French national Dan Elkayam, 27, Wellington Street synagogue assistant Reuven Morrison, Slovak citizen Marika Pogany, 82, retired NSW Police detective sergeant Peter Meagher, 61, Edith Brutman, Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia, 61, Soviet immigrant Boris Tetleroyd, Adam Smyth, 50, British-born Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41,10-year-old Matilda, Alex Kleytman, 87 and Tibor Weitzen, 78.

Some of the victims are pictured in this collage.

The hero grocer who disarmed gunman Sajid Akram during the Bondi Beach shooting has been handed a cheque for $2.5million.

During the mass shooting on December 14, Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, tackled Akram and wrestled away his weapon.

A Syrian-born tobacconist owner, Mr Al Ahmed has been widely praised for his heroism, with Australians raising $2.5million in donations, including $100,000 from US billionaire Bill Ackman.

In a heartwarming video, the hero was presented with the huge cheque in his hospital bed by Canadian content creator Isaac.

‘And I deserve it?’ Mr Al Ahmed asked, to which Isaac responded ‘every penny’.

People on social media praised how humble he was while being presented with the reward.

‘F***.. what a man. What a hero. That guy deserves a statue,’ one person said on X.

‘He deserves every cent, but the heirs of the two Jewish people who tried to stop them and were gunned down also deserve something,’ another added.

A third said: “I deserve (it)?” F***ing dead right buddy, every penny.’

Mr Al Ahmed said in the video that his actions came ‘from the heart’ and were ‘to save lives’.

He also described how wonderful the day had been before the nightmare began.

‘It was a nice day, everyone enjoying, celebrating with the kids… We’re not going to stand and keep watching. Enough is enough. God protect Australia,’ he said.

The Islamic state group has praised the alleged actions of the Bondi Beach shooters.

The terrorist group applauded the father-and-son as ‘lions’ and a ‘source of pride’ in its weekly bulletin Al-Naba on Friday morning, The Herald reported.

However, it stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack that left 15 dead – including a 10-year-old girl – and 42 hospitalised.

It also claimed the pair may have been ‘inspired’ by its teachings.

The terrorist group did not claim responsibility for the massacre but said ‘the zealous ones answered the call’.

A terrifying admission, translated by The Australian, praised the gunmen after they ‘implemented the recommendations to target holidays and gatherings’.

ISIS fighters are seen in a recruiting video targeting the Philippines

A group of ISIL fighters are seen standing on a vehicle at an undisclosed location

‘Whether the attackers received its guidance and support or were the result of its incitement and policies … all your heroics, O strangers, will not be surprised by the bloodshed and bloodshed,’ it read.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced strict new protest laws will come into effect from Monday.

The NSW Police Commissioner will have the power to ban public assemblies, including protests, in specific areas or across the whole state.

The order is expected to remain in place for 14 days and can be extended for up to three months.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Anthony Albanese of ignoring his warnings about rising antisemitism ahead of the Bondi Beach shooting.

In a blistering interview, Netanyahu said the attack was preventable and accused his Australian counterpart of failing to act despite explicit warnings months earlier.

He said lives would have been saved if Jewish community events had been sufficiently protected, describing current restrictions as reckless and outdated.

Asked whether Albanese ignored his calls to take action on antisemitism, Netanyahu replied: ‘I’m afraid he did.’

‘It was bound to reach these tragic outcomes, just as I warned Prime Minister Albanese,’ he told Sky News host Sharri Markson.

‘In my letter to Prime Minister Albanese a few months ago I stated clearly you’re going to have this uptick, it’s going to happen, there’s no question about it.

‘I say now to the Australian government: damn it, wake up! You don’t need any more warnings, you’ve already received enough.’

Netanyahu said the Albanese government’s decision to formally recognise Palestine effectively rewarded Hamas for the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.

During a press conference earlier today, Albanese defended his government’s response to antisemitism, and said Sunday’s attack was ISIS-inspired.

He says the government has taken action to expel the Iranian ambassador after ASIO discovered links with some attacks against Jewish intuitions to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

‘The agencies did substantial work to identify that,’ he said.

‘We then acted by being the first government since World War II to expel an ambassador from Australia with the Iranian ambassador.’

The prime minister also announced that his government will give additional funding to the Australian Federal Police to assist with investigations into antisemitism.

Anthony Albanese has announced there will be a ‘national day of mourning’ for the victims of the terror attack, due to be held in the new year.

The Prime Minister also declared that Sunday, December 21, will be a day of reflection to honour the victims.

‘On Sunday, flags on all NSW and Australian government buildings will be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for the lives lost and the grief shared across our nation,’ he said during a press conference in Canberra.

‘We invite people across Australia to light a candle at 6:47pm – exactly one week since the attack unfolded – as a quiet act of remembrance, with family, friends or loved ones.’

Thousands of people gathered at Bondi Beach this morning to paddle out into the water to hold a minute’s silence for the victims killed during the attack.

There have been numerous memorials held at the beach throughout the week.

Mourners have carried out the caskets of Boris and Sofia Gurman after a funeral service at the Chevra Kadisha Memorial Hall in Sydney.

The married couple died side-by-side while trying to stop one of the Bondi Beach terrorists, days before one of their birthdays.

Mr Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia, 61, were tragically gunned down when they bravely confronted Sajid Akram, 50, and prevented him from opening fire at a Jewish event on Sunday.

A family friend told the Daily Mail Ms Gurman was due to celebrate her 62nd birthday on Wednesday.

The couple were set to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in January.

It is understood that the Gurmans are Russian Jews from the Soviet Union, who have lived in Australia for decades.

‘Boris was a retired mechanic, known for his generosity, quiet strength and willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need. Sofia worked at Australia Post and was deeply loved by her colleagues and community,’ The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said.

‘Together, they lived honest, hardworking lives and treated everyone they met with kindness, warmth and respect.

‘We feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness. This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were – people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others.’

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has issued a stern warning to anti-Israel protesters as the state government cancels rallies due to take place over the weekend.

‘Over the coming days, leading into Christmas, now is not the time to protest,’ she said during a press conference.

‘Now is not the time to use the cloak of protest to cause more grief and division.

‘I can advise that I’ve received information that one of the activities for this weekend, that was planned for tomorrow at the State Library, has been cancelled.

‘I’m grateful for that, but there’s still other activity that is being propose for Sunday.’

Allan said the Chief Commissioner has warned that anyone coming into Melbourne this weekend ‘with the intent to disrupt, with the intent to cause grief, pain and division’ would be dealt with swiftly by Victoria Police.

‘The intent of the protests this weekend – their very titles give away the fact that they are not in pursuit of peace and harmony,’ she said.