Three upcoming Taylor Swift concerts scheduled for this week in Vienna have been cancelled following a potential security threat. The performances, part of Swift’s highly anticipated Eras tour, were set to take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst Happel Stadium, the BBC reported.
The cancellation comes after Austrian authorities arrested two individuals suspected of planning attacks inspired by the Islamic State group on large events in Vienna. A statement from the event organisers cited confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the stadium, prompting the decision to cancel the shows to ensure public safety.
View this post on Instagram
“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,” the statement read. It also announced that all tickets would be automatically refunded within the next 10 working days.
Austrian General Director for Public Security, Franz Ruf, reported that a 19-year-old Austrian citizen was arrested on Wednesday morning in Ternitz, a town in Lower Austria. A second arrest occurred in Vienna later that day, though details about the second suspect have not been released.
ALSO READ: ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ trailer released: Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga bring chaos to Gotham
According to Ruf, the suspects were radicalized online, with the 19-year-old having pledged allegiance to the Islamic State earlier in July. Chemical substances were reportedly found during a search of the suspect’s home in Ternitz and are currently under examination.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed regret over the cancellations of the Taylor Swift concerts, calling it a “bitter disappointment for all fans” while emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. “Thanks to the intensive cooperation of our police and security agencies with foreign services, the threat was recognized early, combated, and a tragedy prevented,” Nehammer said in a post on X.
Vienna’s police chief, Gerhard Pürstl, noted that the Taylor Swift concerts were expected to draw 65,000 attendees daily, with an additional 22,000 fans expected outside the venue.
Investigations into the threat are ongoing.
