Shen Yun Performing Arts Group Confronts Violent Threats During United Kingdom Tour
The internationally acclaimed Shen Yun dance and music troupe has encountered a disturbing series of bomb and assassination threats while performing across the United Kingdom, with menacing messages targeting venues and even issuing a direct warning against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. This touring ensemble, renowned for its extensive advertising campaigns on the London Underground and sold-out performances globally, recently concluded shows in Birmingham, Oxford, and London.
Specific Threats Against Performances and Political Figures
During the group's engagement in Oxford last week, organizers received an alarming email composed in Chinese from an unidentified sender, which explicitly warned of a terrorist attack should the performance proceed. The message declared, "If you insist on having Shen Yun perform, you will experience a surprise terrorist attack. I am not joking with you." In a separate incident in Birmingham over the New Year period, a threat written in English cautioned, "Cancel the Shen Yun performance, or British prime minister Keir Starmer will be shot from a distance!"
Historical Pattern of Intimidation Against the Troupe
These recent threats are part of a longstanding pattern of intimidation that Shen Yun has faced throughout its global tours over the past nineteen years. The troupe has documented more than one hundred and fifty-eight threat incidents worldwide. For instance, in February of last year, a venue in Northampton received a message claiming that explosives had been planted within the theater, stating, "Many explosives have been placed in the theater. If the Shen Yun show starts, we will detonate these explosives. Blow the theater to rubble! This is no joke!" A similar warning was issued prior to a performance in Woking, threatening that audience members would be shot if the show continued. Despite these menacing communications, all scheduled performances have proceeded as planned.
Security Measures and Troupe's Response to Threats
Leeshai Lemish, a master of ceremonies for Shen Yun, emphasized that the group reports every threat to the relevant authorities. "All of them get reported to the police, who are thorough in searching the premises. But they have all been hoaxes," he stated. Due to the persistent threats, the company now operates with heightened security protocols. Lemish recounted, "We had one incident where our tyres got slashed so we couldn't go anywhere. We have also had r@pe threats against our female performers, which means we need security in our hotels too."
Allegations of Foreign Interference and Political Motivations
Shen Yun, which was established in 2006 and promotes what it describes as traditional Chinese culture predating the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has long attributed these threats to opposition from the Chinese government. The troupe is affiliated with Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that is banned in China and accused by Beijing of promoting anti-science beliefs, though Shen Yun disputes these claims and describes its work as purely cultural and artistic.
Suspicions that the threats originate from China intensified following a series of incidents in Taiwan last year. According to Shen Yun, repeated threats to a theater there prompted involvement from Taiwanese intelligence agencies, as well as authorities in Canada and the United States. Canada's Foreign Interference Commission later expressed its belief that the campaign was linked to the CCP, stating, "We suspect the threats were coordinated by the Chinese regime, as the CCP has conducted a global campaign to silence and malign Shen Yun since the company's founding in 2006." The commission added that a US-based human rights organization had documented one hundred and thirty-five incidents of interference with Shen Yun performances across thirty-eight countries, noting that "Chinese diplomats were the primary actors in 81 out of the 135 incidents," indicating the campaign "originates from the very top of the CCP."
Official Responses from UK Authorities
In the United Kingdom, Thames Valley Police confirmed that it was notified of a bomb threat against Shen Yun on January 10, 2026. A spokesperson indicated that the information was reviewed by Counter Terrorism Policing, which found no credible threat to the scheduled performance, adding, "Enquiries are still ongoing in this investigation." A Home Office spokesperson reinforced the government's stance, stating, "The safety and security of individuals in the United Kingdom is of the utmost importance. Any attempts by a foreign state to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm individuals on UK soil are considered a threat to our national security and sovereignty, and will never be tolerated."
Resilience and Continued Performances Despite Adversity
Despite the ongoing threats and security challenges, Shen Yun has remained steadfast in its commitment to staging performances, asserting that it will not be deterred by intimidation. The troupe continues to tour globally, showcasing its artistic productions while navigating complex geopolitical tensions and ensuring the safety of its performers and audiences through enhanced security measures.
