Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese was evacuated from his official residence in Canberra late Tuesday (February 24) following a reported security threat and returned a few hours later after authorities found nothing suspicious, according to media reports and police.
Albanese was moved from The Lodge, the Prime Minister’s residence in the Australian capital, after police responded to what they described as an “alleged security incident” around 6 pm (0700 GMT).
Precautionary relocation
National broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Prime Minister was taken to a separate location for several hours as a precaution before being allowed to return.
No ongoing threat
The Australian Federal Police said in a statement that officers conducted a thorough search of the protected establishment and “nothing suspicious was located.”
“There is no current threat to the community or public safety,” police added.
“There is no current threat to the community or public safety,” the spokesperson added.
Police did not disclose further details about the nature of the alleged incident.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is tasked with protecting federal parliamentarians and key Commonwealth sites, including The Lodge and Parliament House.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said the government has full confidence in the AFP and thanked officers for their service.
The AFP added that further information would be provided at a later stage.
Rising threats to politicians
Threats against Australian politicians have intensified, with lawmakers across the political spectrum facing harassment and intimidation.
Independent senators Lidia Thorpe and Fatima Payman were among those targeted, receiving threatening letters in recent months, Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in mid-2024 that threats to the safety of federal politicians had doubled over the previous two years, underscoring growing security concerns around elected representatives.
In a separate incident earlier in February, a Melbourne man was charged over alleged death threats and antisemitic remarks directed at a federal MP. Authorities have not disclosed further details, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
