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Threat targets Australian leader's residence
A bomb scare at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's official Canberra home on Tuesday stemmed from emailed threats against a Chinese dance troupe outlawed in Beijing, local media and the BBC report.
Emails warn of explosives
Messages obtained by Australian outlets and the BBC warned performers from the Shen Yun ensemble to cancel upcoming Australian shows or face explosives at the Lodge, the prime minister's residence. One email, written in Chinese, claimed large quantities of nitroglycerine had been planted around the property.
"If you insist on proceeding with the performance, then the Prime Minister's Lodge will be blown into ruins and blood will flow like a river."
Police respond, find nothing
Albanese was evacuated at 18:00 local time (07:00 GMT) and taken to a secure location for several hours. Australian Federal Police confirmed attending an "alleged security incident" but said no suspicious items were found. Authorities declined further comment.
Shen Yun vows to perform
The troupe, founded by the Falun Gong spiritual movement banned in China since 1999, notified police of the threats on Tuesday. In a statement to the BBC, Shen Yun said it would proceed with its Australian tour and urged a full investigation.
Political tensions flare
On Wednesday, Albanese shared a social media photo of his dog Toto guarding the Lodge door, thanking police and well-wishers. Interrupted by protesters later that day, he repeated calls to "turn the heat down" in national debate.
"We can't take these things for granted."
Anthony Albanese, Australian Prime Minister
Global pattern of threats
Shen Yun reports facing dozens of similar threats worldwide in the past two years. Last week, a bomb scare forced the evacuation of Washington DC's Kennedy Center during a Shen Yun performance. US media linked the incident to the troupe.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she was unaware of the Australian incident but reiterated Beijing's opposition to "all forms of violent attacks." An unnamed Australian government source told the ABC the threat could originate from a community member hostile to Falun Gong rather than a state actor.
Background
Based in upstate New York, Shen Yun was established in 2006. Its performances feature elaborate dance routines that include veiled criticism of the Chinese Communist Party. The troupe has denied allegations of employee mistreatment raised in recent years.
