Bondi shooting updates: Seven men detained over fears of violent act set to be released, gun buyback announced

The Prime Minister has gone to Australian Federal Police headquarters in Canberra to meet with members of the counter-terrorism team, and receive an update on the Bondi terror attack investigation.

Anthony Albanese also visited the headquarters of Australia’s domestic spy agency ASIO to meet with Director-General Mike Burgess and speak with officers who worked on the initial response on Sunday night.

The PM has thanked AFP and ASIO staff for their ongoing work keeping Australians safe.

NSW Premier Chris Minns delivered an emotional reflection on the need to protect Sydney’s Jewish community.

When asked if it was wrong for people, including those in his cabinet, to attend the Sydney Harbour Bridge pro-Palestie rally, Mr Minns gave this example:

“My views about that particular march are really well-known. I opposed it. Police opposed it,” he said.

“I was talking to my wife last night. We attend mass every Sunday and we go with our kids and make our kids come to varying degrees of coercion, but they all go. And Anna was saying to me - would we be attending church in the knowledge that our kids could be killed as a result of going? And the truth is - we might not.

“We might decide it’s too much of a risk. Members of the Jewish community are practising their faith in the face of that risk and we have all got a responsibility to protect that community today.”

Islamic State has praised the Bondi Beach terrorist attack describing the gunmen as “heroes” and “lions”, and calling the mass shooting a “source of pride”, but stopped short of claiming responsibility for the atrocity.

In an article published overnight it has boasted about the influence of its ideology, narratives and online messaging, claiming that governments are unable to control its reach unless they shut down the internet entirely.

“The group is not eager to officially claim responsibility for all these blessed attacks … [the attackers] answered the call and implemented the recommendations to target holidays and gatherings,” the article said.

The comments are believed to be the group’s first official response to Sunday’s attack in Bondi.

Labor MP and Olympic shooter Dan Repacholi has vowed he won’t support gun agenda measures which are “symbolic” in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre, saying they “are not the answer”.

The Hunter MP Dan Repacholi on Friday said he wanted to make his position “consistent and clear” after thousands of contacts in the past few days.

It comes as the Albanese Government announced a new national buyback scheme and NSW will recall State Parliament to tighten their controls.

“Australia has strong gun laws and they save lives, but I do not support changes that unfairly target responsible, law-abiding firearms owners,” he said.

“Measures that are blunt, symbolic or simply designed to appease public anger without improving safety are not the answer.”

“My position is consistent and clear.”

Mr Repacholi represented Australia at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has been asked if people in the state should be “avoiding public places, crowded places, in coming weeks”.

“I believe it’s really important to listen to NSW Police. They are, as you can see in the last 24 hours, they are going to take decisive action on the basis of the information that they get. They will not take a backward step,” Mr Minns said.

“We can’t be in a situation where we crawl up in a ball, or we hide, or we don’t go about living our lives, or we pretend that - that the only way to combat this horrible violent crime is to stay away.

Mr Minns said the terrorists want to restrict Australians from living freely.

“They want us to not live like Australians. So listen to official communication.

“If you’re planning on going out on New Year’s Eve, I think you can show defiance to these terrorists by keeping going with your plans and having fun with your family and friends and enjoying our beautiful weather.

“I think you saw this morning at Bondi with that paddle-out that there are millions of Australians who are not going to cower in the face of terrorism and that’s a fantastic thing.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns says on Monday his Government will introduce the toughest gun laws in the country, with citizens limited to a new four-gun cap.

“The New South Wales Government will introduce the toughest gun law reforms in the country,” Mr Minns said.

“The Government will introduce a bill to impose a cap of four firearms per individual, with strict exemptions for primary producers and sporting shooters.

“We will reclassify straight, pull, pump-action, button, lever release firearms into category C - limiting their access primarily to farmers, agriculture, primary producers.

“We’ll reduce magazine capacities for category A and B firearms to a maximum of five to 10 rounds from a current unlimited capacity.

“We’ll introduce a complete ban on firearms that can use belt-fed magazines, and we will remove the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal review pathway once a designation has been made that the licence should be taken.”

NSW Premier Chirs Minns says his Government is moving to outlaw displays of ISIS flags in legislation that is set to be introduced on Monday.

“The New South Wales Government will also introduce legislation to ban ISIS flags in New South Wales to ensure that they’re not used as part of demented terrorist organisation propaganda,” he said.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley added Islamic State (ISIS) “are murderous barbarians”

“There is no legitimate purpose for displaying an Islamic State or ISIS flag in New South Wales except to cause fear and intimidation and insult and those days are over.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns says new laws set to be tabled in State Parliament on Monday will give authorities powers to reject protest applications for three months after terror declarations.

“The Government will act to ensure that we restrict the authorisation of public assemblies during high-risk times like when there is a terrorist event in New South Wales,” Mr Minns said.

“When a terrorist incident is formally declared under the Terrorism Police Powers Act, the Police Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of police, with the agreement of the Minister for Police, will be able to declare a specific area where public assemblies are restricted for a period of time. A public assembly restriction declaration.

Mr Minns said the terror declaration will need to be made within 14 days of an incident, and the protest restriction powers can be used for 14 days, but that restriction can be extended for up to three months.

Despite being arrested over fears of a violent act at Bondi Beach, seven men arrested in Liverpool will walk free soon, subject to evidence review, as NSW Police do not have sufficient information to continue detaining the men.

“According to law, we don’t believe that we have sufficient evidence to detain the men at this stage, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.

“Once a person is not in custody, if they haven’t been charged, they’re not subject to bail conditions. They’re free to go.

“I have been clear. We will monitor these men whilst they’re in New South Wales. And we will work closely with Victorian and other Commonwealth law enforcement partners.”

NSW Police say they are investigating “radical Islamist extremism” in connection to seven men arrested in Liverpool on Thursday, however, subject to evidence review, the men will soon be released.

“All seven males are known to the Victorian Police and travelled from Victoria,” Commissioner Mal Lanyon said on Friday.

“Whilst this specific threat posed by the males is unknown, I can say that the potential of a violent offence being committed was such that we were not prepared to tolerate the risk and interdict accordingly.

“The information received was that Bondi may have been one of a number of locations that the males were intending to attend, but the reason for attending is unknown.”

Despite the arrests, the men look set to be released and be walking free amongst the community by Friday night.

“The justification for their ongoing detention no longer exists, subject to a review of evidence,” the Commissioner said.

“They will continue to be monitored whilst in New South Wales and we will work closely with our Victorian and Commonwealth law enforcement partners.”