By Alasdair Pal
SYDNEY, Feb 25 (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday he did not take his security for granted, after he was evacuated from his residence for several hours following an alleged bomb threat.
Albanese was evacuated from his residence in Canberra late on Tuesday following a security threat, and returned a few hours later after nothing suspicious was found.
Police said there was no ongoing threat.
“I think it’s just a reminder, take every opportunity to tell people, turn the heat down for goodness sake,” Albanese said at an event in Melbourne on Wednesday.
“We can’t take these things for granted.”
The bomb threat was 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.
The email sent to the group’s local organisers and originally written in Chinese, claimed that explosives had been placed around Albanese’s residence, and would detonate if the group performed in the country.
“All threats have been reported to Australian national security and law enforcement authorities. We appreciate the steps taken to ensure public safety and to protect elected officials, including the prime minister,” the group said.
Police declined to comment on the source of the threat.
Earlier on Wednesday, Albanese posted a photo on Instagram of his dog standing by a door at The Lodge, his official residence in Canberra, with a caption thanking police for their work.
(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Saad Sayeed and Kate Mayberry)
