Three men who police allege were part of a hired "kill team" have been charged after being arrested in Sydney's southwest while on their way to carry out a murder near a daycare centre. The men were intercepted by a tactical operations unit on River Road in Revesby at about 3.50pm on Tuesday.
The suspects, aged 18, 19, and 26, face charges including conspiracy to commit murder and participating in a criminal group. Police say the trio were acting on behalf of a transnational organised crime network amid an internal dispute.
Authorities recovered two firearms, balaclavas, body-worn cameras, and jerry cans of fuel from the vehicles. A third firearm was later seized from another vehicle linked to the men. The intended target, believed to be on his way to pick up his child, was in the vicinity at the time of the arrests.
Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook of NSW Police stated that the intervention prevented a planned killing near a daycare centre, a scenario he described as deeply concerning. He noted that the group was prepared to kill in a location where significant collateral damage could have occurred.
One of the arrested men was already on bail for a series of aggravated break and enter charges. NSW Premier Chris Minns, when asked about the case, acknowledged that the circumstances suggested the court system may have got it wrong.
