New video shows the moment police intercepted an alleged “kill team” on their way to murder a man at a daycare centre in Sydney’s south-west.

The alleged target is a figure linked to organised crime who was targeted over a “breakdown” in a transnational crime syndicate, police say.

Police believe the alleged target was potentially on his way to pick up his child from the centre at the time of the arrests.

The accused men were arrested yesterday on The River Road in Revesby in dramatic scenes as tactical officers fired shots at several vehicles.

Two men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested from a Mitsubishi Outlander and a third man, aged 26, was arrested from a nearby Mercedes-Benz.

The younger men were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possessing an unauthorised pistol, being carried in a conveyance taken without the consent of the owner, participating in a criminal group and breach of bail.

The older man was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and participating in a criminal group.

They were refused bail to appear in court today.

Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, who led the operation, said the trio’s behaviour and actions – including allegedly wearing balaclavas in the car and driving with false plates – indicated to police the significance of the job.

Officers seized two pistols, balaclavas, body-worn cameras, and jerry cans containing fuel from the cars.

Multiple search warrants were carried out in the city’s south-west overnight, and more evidence, including electronic devices, was seized.

A third firearm was also seized in the searches.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook said the potential victim was targeted as part of a breakdown in a transnational crime syndicate.

“We believe this is an internal matter in this organisation,” he said.

“The fact that this group was prepared to kill an individual in a location where so much collateral damage could have been caused is a significant concern to the NSW Police Force.”

Faux said the three men did not know the person they were targeting.

“They are people who were hired by a syndicate, possibly an offshore syndicate, to carry out this murder on their behalf,” he said.

In a video taken by a witness, a police officer was seen aiming a weapon at somebody inside one of the vehicles.

“We heard some gunshots going off,” another witness said.

“I started walking out my house, heard more gunshots and then cars swerving.”

Tactical police temporarily served as traffic cops as they redirected vehicles while arresting the men.

Police today firmly denied suggestions the operation posed a danger to the public.

Cook, at a press conference this morning, confirmed police used non-lethal rounds.

Cook said the NSW Police tactical unit was possibly “the best in the country” and had prepared multiple contingency plans depending on how the alleged hit team acted.