Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Australia, a 'death threat' issued against him under a post announcing his community event in Melbourne, has sparked alarm and prompted an investigation.
The death threat was posted by a user named Abu Mustafa—whose name was written in Arabic—in the comment section of a Facebook post announcing the date for the 'Melbourne Meets Modi' community event.
The post, made on a page for the community event reportedly organised by a group called the Australia India Foundation (AIF) with about 1,600 followers, declared that PM Modi would visit the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne at 3:30 PM for the event.
“The roof tops of the stadium better close during the event or he will be coming to Australia for his death," read Mustafa's comment under this post, as per an Australia Today report.
However, THE WEEK could not independently verify this claim.
The report added, citing sources, that investigators from the Australian Federal Police have identified the IP address associated with the comment and are currently engaged in tracing the person who put it up.
The authorities are also looking at the circumstances surrounding the message and whether a larger conspiracy might be at play.
This alleged threat comes just days before PM Modi’s official visit to Australia as a part of his three-nation visit from July 6-11 to boost ties in the Asia-Pacific region.
The PM will first visit Indonesia on July 6, and then travel to Australia before ending the trip in New Zealand on July 11.
The Melbourne outreach event was allegedly one of the many bilateral engagements and community events that the PM is scheduled to take place in, during the three-nation visit.
Notably, India is one of Australia's largest trading partners, with about one million Indian-born residents making up Australia's largest overseas population.
In Australia, Modi is also expected to meet leaders from top Australian companies, and visit the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
