Shen Yun takes the stage in Rome despite bomb threat scare.
A bomb threat prompted a police response at a Rome theater on March 17th,
but New York-based Shen Yun performing arts began its performance at the Auditorium
Dele conciliation on time. The presenter of the performance in Italy,
associateian culturali Il Pante, said that local police arrived at the venue with police dogs
before the scheduled 8 p.m. start time. It added that the threat turned out to be a hoax.
No incidents were reported, and police officers remained in the theater as the performance began.
They were expected to continue monitoring the venue for the remaining three shows.
Two scheduled on March 18th and one on March 19th. A copy of an email provided to the
epic times shows that a bomb threat was sent to the presenter on March 16th.
The email warned in English that a bomb was planted in the theater.
If the performance continues, an explosion is inevitable. Shen Yun,
which showcases dance and music performances under the motto China before communism,
currently has eight companies touring the world simultaneously.
Since late December, it has performed in the Italian cities of Torino,
Udina, Milan, Livorno, Bari, Encona,
Avalino, and Genova. In Rome, all tickets for its eight performances were sold out three months
before the first show on February 13th, according to the presenter. Shen Yun,
founded in 2006 by practitioners of Falun Gong. A widespread spiritual practice centered on the
principles of truth, compassion, and tolerance that has faced severe persecution by the Chinese
regime since 1999, has become a target of the Chinese Communist Party. Over the past two years,
the campaign against Shen Yun has intensified significantly. The company has faced a series of
bomb and death threats aimed at intimidating theaters hosting its performances,
as well as its training facilities in upstate New York.
These threats have extended beyond the company, targeting six world leaders,
including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Italian President Sergio Maderella.
Since January 2026, in attempts to block Shen Yun shows in their countries,
in Canada, a China-linked threat campaign has targeted not only Carney,
but also former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, members of Parliament,
and other senior officials. On March 17th, Italian Senator Giulio Terzi di Sanagata,
a member of the Fratelli detalia party, expressed a solidarity with Shen Yun and its artists,
pointing to the growing number of intimidations and threats via email,
according to a translation of a statement. In just a few days, these threats,
which first appeared about two years ago, have exceeded hundreds, and,
as reported by Shen Yun officials, are only increasing and taking on new forms.
Terzi said, he noted that direct pressure from Chinese officials has turned the threatening
email messages into a new form of sabotage. I therefore express my full solidarity with the
organizers and artists of Shen Yun, who, in the face of new and growing intimidation,
continue to promote the values of an open and democratic society through art.
Terzi stated, Terzi attended a Shen Yun performance at Rome's Teatro del Opera D Roma in February
2025. It is more than just a feast for the senses. The feeling, the heart, you understand,
it is inside. It's inside this great work of art. Terzi told the epic times at the time,
Eva Fu contributed to this report.
