Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was evacuated from The Lodge, his official residence in Canberra, on the evening of February 24 after a serious security threat emerged. The incident quickly drew public attention and activated security agencies.
According to local sources, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) were present at the residence before 8:40 PM and activated emergency protective procedures. The Prime Minister was moved to an alternative safe location while authorities conducted a thorough inspection of the scene.
The Australian Federal Police later issued a statement indicating they were conducting a full search of the protected area. They affirmed that "there is no current threat to the community or public safety." Authorities have not released specific details about the nature of the threat but confirmed the Prime Minister was unharmed. SBS News was the first outlet to report on the police deployment.
Heightened Security Context
The incident occurred amid reports from elected officials in Australia of a significant increase in threatening and harassing messages recently. These threats include online harassment.
Previously, the Australian Federal Police had repeatedly warned about an increasingly complex security environment. This situation is attributed to the rise of misinformation, geopolitical tensions, and inflammatory rhetoric.
The evacuation on the evening of February 24 is likely to reignite debate about the level of security protection afforded to high-ranking leaders in Australia. The investigation into this threat is currently ongoing.
