Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday said he did not take his security for granted, after he was evacuated from his residence for several hours following a bomb threat sent to a Chinese dance group.
Albanese was evacuated from his Canberra residence late on Tuesday following the threat, and returned a few hours later after nothing suspicious was found.
The bomb scare was among several e-mails threatening Albanese sent to a representative of Shen Yun, a classical Chinese dance troupe banned in China that is due to perform in Australia this month, a spokesperson for the group said in a statement.
Photo: EPA
The e-mail sent to the group’s local organizers and originally written in Mandarin, claimed that explosives had been placed around Albanese’s residence, and would detonate if the group performed in the country.
“If you insist on proceeding with the performance, then the prime minister’s residence will be reduced to a blood-soaked ruin,” read one of the e-mails, seen by Reuters and dated Sunday.
The group reported the threats to Australian National Security, the spokesperson said.
Police declined to comment on the source of the threat.
Albanese yesterday laughed off the incident, posting a photo of his pet dog Toto, a female Cavoodle, on Instagram with the caption: “Toto on alert but all good. Thanks to AFP [Australian Federal Police] for your ongoing work and professionalism and to people who sent kind messages of care and support.”
Later at an event in Melbourne, he said it was a reminder to “take every opportunity to tell people, turn the heat down for goodness sake.”
Additional reporting by Bloomberg
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