Three Taylor Swift concerts due to take place at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium this week have been cancelled in response to a possible security threat.
A statement from the promoter of the shows says, “Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone’s safety. All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next ten working days”.
Two people were arrested yesterday on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in the Austrian capital. The country’s General Director For Public Security, Franz Ruf, said that the suspects were inspired by the Islamic State group after becoming radicalised via online platforms.
According to ABC News, the authorities in Austria responded to intelligence from the US that Swift’s shows could be the target of a terrorist attack. Investigators aren’t convinced that the attack planned by the suspects would actually have worked and it isn’t clear if a functioning bomb had been produced. However, chemical substances were found at the home of one of the suspects which are now being examined by the authorities.
Responding to the arrests and subsequent axing of Swift’s shows, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he knew the cancellations would be a “bitter disappointment for all fans”, but added that the situation had been “very serious”. He went on, “Thanks to the intensive cooperation of our police and security agencies with foreign services, the threat was recognised early, combated and a tragedy prevented”.
ABC News notes that law enforcement officials across Europe have been concerned about possible terrorist attacks at major events, like big concerts, ever since the deadly Moscow concert hall assault earlier this year for which an Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility.
Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ will now resume in London next Thursday.
