‘No current risk’: Australian police identify suspect who threatened PM Modi, issue formal warning

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has traced the threat linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country and concluded that it does not pose any risk anymore.

In a statement to Australian Today, the AFP said it had identified the source of the online threat, spoken to a young person on Friday (July 3), and issued a formal warning following its assessment.

The AFP added that it takes threats against federal parliamentarians, senior office-holders, and international dignitaries seriously, and confirmed that there is “no current or impending risk to the community”.

Ahead of Modi’s visit to Australia later this week (Wednesday to Friday), a Facebook user made a threatening comment on a post about the ‘Melbourne Meets Modi’ event. Authorities began investigating the matter after the comment came to light.

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“The roof tops of the stadium better close during the event or he will be coming to Australia for his death,” the comment read, according to India Today.

While the AFP did not identify the individual who made the threat, India Today reported that the social media account behind the comment was named ‘Abu Mustafa’.

During the visit, Modi will hold talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and take part in community events, including a gathering at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Thursday — the same event that the threat referred to.

Modi’s visit to Australia is part of a three-nation tour beginning in Indonesia. In the second leg of the visit, he will visit Australia before heading to New Zealand.

Enhancing bilateral trade, strengthening defence ties, expanding security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and securing supplies of rare earths and critical minerals are expected to top the agenda. As a Pacific nation and a member of the Quad, Australia is one of India’s key partners in efforts to counter Chinese ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.