Seven men, aged 19 to 24, have been released from police custody in Sydney, denying any links to Islamic extremism. The group, originally from Victoria, was detained on a busy street in southwest Sydney on Thursday, just hours before a potential shooting massacre at Bondi Beach. The police acted under special counter-terrorism powers, suspecting the men were planning a violent act.
However, the men claim they were innocent and were simply on a holiday, driving to their Airbnb accommodation. They believe their detention was due to their appearance and religious beliefs. One of the men, with a head injury, expressed his frustration, stating, 'We didn't do anything wrong. Nothing was found on us.'
The New South Wales police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, acknowledged the lack of evidence to charge the men, stating, 'The justification for their ongoing detention no longer exists.' The men were released on Friday, and their lawyer, Ahmed Dib, is considering legal action. The police had received information suggesting the men might have been planning violent acts at multiple locations, but no firearms were found in their possession.
The incident has sparked debates about the balance between security measures and civil liberties. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, praised the police's swift response, emphasizing the importance of taking risks seriously. However, the men's lawyer and the public debate highlight the need for careful consideration of evidence and due process in such sensitive cases.
