Three shows of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Vienna have been cancelled after two suspects were arrested for allegedly plotting to attack a public event in the city.
The announcement was made by Barracuda Music, the organisers of Swift’s three shows in Austria, late on 7 August, after Austrian authorities announced the arrest of a 19-year-old man with an armed presence in Vienna, claiming Swift’s concerts were the “centre” of the plot.
At a press conference, Franz Ruf, the director of public security at the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, announced that the suspect, an Austrian citizen, had pledged allegiance to the self-funded Islamic State (IS). He was arrested early on 7 August in the state of Lower Austria, about an hour’s drive from Vienna.
The chemicals were stored at the suspect’s home and are currently being evaluated, Ruf said. A second person, believed to be linked to the suspect, was also arrested in Vienna.
“Thanks to close coordination between the Austrian intelligence, the Austrian police and foreign agencies, the threat was detected early and countered. A tragedy was averted,” said Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
Taylor Swift had previously been scheduled to perform at the Ernst Happel Arena in the Austrian capital Vienna on August 8, 9 and 10. This is part of the Eras Tour, which begins on March 17, 2023 in the United States and is scheduled to end on December 8 in Canada.
In an Instagram post late on August 7, Barracuda Music, the organizer of Taylor Swift’s three-night tour in Austria, said: “With confirmation from government officials of a plot to attack the Ernst Happel Arena, we have no choice but to postpone the three shows as scheduled for the safety of everyone.”
Singer Taylor Swift. Photo: REUTERS
The organizers announced that all ticket prices will be refunded to those who attended the show. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s fan community on social media is expressing disappointment and regret at not being able to witness their favorite star on stage. According to estimates from the APA news agency, about 170,000 people bought tickets to attend Swift’s highly anticipated shows in Vienna.
According to the Guardian/Reuters
