After the arrests of two men suspected of planning a terrorist attack on upcoming events, organizers have been forced to cancel three Taylor Swift concerts scheduled to take place at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, event organizer Barracuda Music announced the cancellation of the shows citing safety concerns due to the confirmed terror threat.
Fans of the megastar readying to see her earlier this month in Warsaw, Poland. Pic: AP
The cancellations have also been reflected on Swift’s website under the “tour” tab, with a notice stating that ticket refunds will be processed automatically within the next 10 business days.
Authorities have apprehended two individuals in connection with the alleged plot targeting major events in Vienna, including the Swift concerts. According to US officials collaborating with Austrian law enforcement, they are still searching for additional suspects linked to the planned attack.
The suspects were closely monitored over a period and were already known to Austrian authorities, as confirmed by officials.
The Vienna state police director, Franz Ruf, disclosed that one of the arrested men, a 19-year-old who professed allegiance to the IS terrorist group, had a specific focus on the Taylor Swift concerts.
The arrests were made in the early hours of Wednesday, with police emphasizing that both suspects had been radicalised through online channels.
Reportedly, the men had detailed plans for carrying out the attacks during the concerts, which were anticipated to draw huge crowds of up to 65,000 attendees daily.
The cancellation announcement. Pic: Reuters
Upon the arrest of the 19-year-old Austrian suspect in Ternitz, Lower Austria, officials discovered chemical substances being examined for bomb-making potential.
Although it was believed that the suspect might not have acquired all necessary bomb components before the event dates, Austrian authorities took them into custody to prevent any alternative means of attack.
Following the announcement of heightened security measures for the concerts by authorities, Swift’s team decided to cancel the events.
There was no specific threat against Swift but rather a general security concern pertaining to the event as a whole, as indicated by reports.
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Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed his regret over the cancellation but highlighted that a potential tragedy had been averted.
He emphasized the seriousness of the situation regarding the alleged plot and commended the swift and effective response from authorities.
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The elite Cobra unit from Austria assisted in the arrests, initially with no intentions to cancel the concerts as per police statements, although this decision was eventually reversed.
The last-minute cancellation followed an announcement of reinforced security measures by Austrian authorities to ensure the safety of the public during the events.
Mr. Ruf disclosed that the security measures would include enhanced entry checks and heightened police presence among other precautions.
Vienna’s police chief, Gerhard Purstl, echoed his sentiments, stating that while immediate threats were mitigated, a general security alert warranted the increased measures.
