Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was rushed from The Lodge on Tuesday evening after a bomb threat warned the residence would be destroyed and that “blood will flow”.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) responded to what they described as an “alleged security incident” at about 6pm at the prime minister’s official Canberra home.
PM Albanese was moved to a secure location while officers carried out a detailed search of the property, which lasted more than three hours.
Authorities later confirmed nothing suspicious was found and the prime minister returned to The Lodge after 9pm.
Investigators are examining a series of threatening emails that allegedly claimed explosives had been placed around the residence on Adelaide Avenue in Deakin.
One message, reportedly written in Chinese, included the warning that “blood will flow like a river” if certain demands were not met.
As per ABC, the emails allegedly demanded the cancellation of upcoming performances by Shen Yun, a classical Chinese dance company founded by practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement and banned in China.
The message claimed “large quantities of nitroglycerin” had been positioned around the Lodge and threatened to detonate them if the performances proceeded.
The AFP said in a statement that a “thorough search of a protection establishment was undertaken and nothing suspicious was located”.
“There is no current threat to the community or public safety.”
In his first public remarks after the incident, PM Albanese thanked police for their professionalism. On Wednesday morning, he posted a light-hearted message on social media alongside a photo of his dog, Toto, writing that all was well and expressing appreciation for the support he had received.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said threats against any parliamentarian were “utterly abhorrent”, while Finance Minister Katy Gallagher described the situation as “very troubling” and said it was an extraordinary set of circumstances. She urged Australians to lower the temperature of political debate and warned against resorting to threats or violence.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says she sympathises with the Prime Minister after his evacuation from The Lodge, revealing she has previously faced serious threats herself.
“I’ve been in his shoes. I’ve had 24/7 police protection and my children have been evacuated from school because of threats to me and my family,”
Senator Hanson condemned political violence, urging Australians to channel frustration through democratic means.
“Violence is not the answer — we have to have free speech, free debate and make our choice felt at the ballot box.”
The incident comes amid growing concern about threats directed at elected representatives. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett has previously told Senate Estimates that politicians across the political spectrum are facing an increasing number of online and offline threats. The AFP receives hundreds of referrals relating to threats against parliamentarians each year.
In recent months, several individuals have been charged over alleged threats targeting federal MPs, including the prime minister and senior ministers.
The investigation into Tuesday night’s bomb threat remains ongoing.
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