Arabic version: إجلاء رئيس الوزراء ألبانيزي مرتبط بتهديد بقنبلة ضد مجموعة الرقص
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was evacuated from the Lodge last night due to a bomb threat linked to performances in Australia by the Shen Yun Chinese dance group. According to ABC News, an email was sent to the local organisers of Shen Yun falsely claiming that explosives had been placed around the property.
The threat was reportedly made in connection with Shen Yun’s upcoming performances in Australia. The email warned that if the shows proceeded, the Prime Minister’s residence would be blown into ruins, stating, “Large quantities of nitro-glycerine explosives have been placed around the Australian Prime Minister’s Lodge, located on Adelaide Avenue in the Deakin area of Canberra, Australia.”
Albanese was relocated for several hours while the Australian Federal Police (AFP) conducted a thorough search of the Lodge, ultimately determining that there was no threat. The AFP confirmed that they responded to the incident at 6 PM and found nothing suspicious.
Shen Yun, which is known for its classical Chinese performances, has faced threats before, including a similar incident last year at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The group has been linked to the Falun Gong movement, which is banned in China, and has received criticism from Chinese authorities.
While the Chinese government has condemned Shen Yun performances, there is currently no evidence linking the Chinese embassy or the government to the bomb threat against Albanese. A government source suggested that the threat could originate from an individual in the community opposed to Falun Gong, rather than a coordinated attack from an external entity.
