Mr. Anthony Albanese The Australian Prime Minister was evacuated from his official residence in Canberra after receiving a bomb threat email linked to a Shen Yun performance group, which is banned in China due to its association with the Falun Gong movement. Police searched the residence but found no suspicious items, while China issued a statement warning its citizens to be cautious of the performance.
Last night (24 Feb), Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was urgently evacuated from "The Lodge," his official residence, following a bomb threat email connected to the Australian tour of the Chinese dance and music troupe Shen Yun.
Australia's ABC news website confirmed that Shen Yun's event managers received an email stating that large amounts of nitroglycerin had been placed around the Prime Minister's residence in the Deakin area of Canberra. The email chillingly warned, "If you persist with the performances, the Prime Minister's residence will be blown to ruins, and blood will flow like a river."
Shen Yun received the threat yesterday and immediately notified the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who ordered the evacuation of Prime Minister Albanese to a secure location for several hours while the area was searched. Authorities later announced no suspicious items were found and there was no public danger.
Shen Yun, linked to the spiritual movement Falun Gong, has planned a tour across Australia this month, beginning tonight in Gold Coast. However, on Monday, a theater in Gold Coast was also evacuated after receiving a similar threat.
The Chinese government, which has long banned Falun Gong, responded through its consulates in Sydney and Melbourne, warning that Shen Yun is a "political tool" disguising itself as cultural performance to spread its ideology and attack the Chinese government, urging people to stay away from this "poisonous" cult.
Meanwhile, Falun Gong activists countered that this is a clear example of "transnational repression," where foreign governments attempt to intimidate and silence dissenters abroad.
However, government sources stated there is no evidence directly linking the Chinese government or embassy to the threat, cautioning against premature conclusions as it may be the act of individuals hostile to Falun Gong themselves.
Australia's security agency (ASIO) and AFP expressed concern over a rising trend of threats against parliament members, reporting 951 cases of intimidation and harassment in the past fiscal year, reflecting increasing societal divisions and tensions.
.sourceABC News