The eye-catching advertisements for Shen Yun, plastered across London Underground tunnels, depict a woman suspended mid-air in a dramatic sprint. This US-based dance and music troupe, which has sold out performances worldwide since its 2006 launch, recently concluded a series of UK shows in cities like Birmingham, Oxford, and London. However, behind the vibrant spectacle lies a far more sinister reality: the group is grappling with a barrage of threats, including bomb warnings in the capital and even a direct threat to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
A Pattern of Menacing Communications
During their Oxford engagement last week, Shen Yun received an email in Chinese from an unrecognised address. The message starkly warned: ‘If you insist on having Shen Yun perform, you will experience a surprise terrorist attack. I am not joking with you.’ This was not an isolated incident. Over the New Year period in Birmingham, another threat, written in English, chillingly stated: ‘Cancel the Shen Yun performance, or British prime minister Keir Starmer will be shot from a distance!’
For Shen Yun, such menacing communications are sadly routine. Over the past 19 years, the troupe has documented more than 158 similar incidents across its global tours. In February of last year, a bomb threat ahead of a Northampton show declared: ‘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 comparable threat in Woking warned that the audience would be ‘all about to be shot’ if the performance proceeded. Despite these dire warnings, all shows have gone ahead as planned.
Security Measures and Police Response
Leeshai Lemish, an MC for Shen Yun, told Metro that while the group is accustomed to such threats, each one is treated with utmost seriousness. ‘All of them get reported to the police, who are thorough in searching the premises. But they have all been hoaxes,’ he explained. The persistent nature of these threats has necessitated heightened security measures. The troupe now travels with security personnel guarding their buses and hotel rooms overnight.
Lemish recounted specific incidents, including one where their vehicle tyres were slashed, immobilising the group. Additionally, there have been rape threats against female performers, further underscoring the need for robust hotel security. Thames Valley Police confirmed they were informed of a bomb threat directed at Shen Yun on 10 January 2026. Counter Terrorism Policing assessed the information and found no credible threat to the scheduled performance that day, though enquiries remain ongoing.
Political and Ideological Underpinnings
The root of these threats appears to stem from Shen Yun’s ideological stance. The group, which aims to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture predating the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is operated by Falun Gong, a new religious movement. Beijing authorities claim Falun Gong promotes anti-science views and self-immolation, leading to significant friction. ‘The government do not like what we stand for,’ Lemish noted, highlighting the cultural and political tensions.
For years, Shen Yun suspected that the threats originated from China, but a critical incident in Taiwan last March provided clearer evidence. When the group arrived in Taiwan, one theatre received so many threats that local intelligence services, along with Canadian and US agencies, became involved. Subsequently, Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission launched an investigation, concluding that the CCP was likely responsible.
Investigative Findings and Official Statements
The commission’s report stated: ‘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.’ Supporting this, the Falun Dafa Information Center, a US-based human rights organisation, documented 135 incidents of interference with Shen Yun performances across 38 countries earlier this year. Leaked CCP documents and the involvement of Chinese diplomats in 81 of these incidents suggest the campaign is orchestrated from the highest levels of the CCP.
A Home Office spokesperson emphasised: ‘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.’ Metro also approached West Midlands Police and Northampton Police for further comment on the incidents in their jurisdictions.
Despite the ongoing threats and investigations, Shen Yun continues its mission to showcase traditional Chinese culture through dance and music, navigating a complex landscape of global politics and security concerns. The group’s resilience in the face of such adversity underscores the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding artistic expression and ideological dissent.
