All three concerts by American star Taylor Swift scheduled in Vienna this week have been cancelled, organisers announced on Wednesday evening, after Austrian police revealed plans for Islamist attacks.
“With the confirmation by the authorities of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three concerts for the safety of all,” Barracuda Music explained on Instagram, adding that tickets would be automatically refunded “within 10 days.”
Police had earlier reported the arrest of two people, including a 19-year-old man planning Islamist attacks, particularly in connection with Taylor Swift concerts.
This Austrian citizen, who had “pledged allegiance” to the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), was arrested following a special operation in Lower Austria, an hour from the capital, the Director General of Public Security, Franz Ruf, declared at a press conference.
“We have discovered preparatory acts with a focus on Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna,” he added, specifying that “chemical substances” had been “seized” at the suspect’s home.
The young man was in collusion with another person, also “radicalised on the Internet”, who was arrested in Vienna, Mr Ruf stressed, without giving further details.
The authorities had promised to strengthen security measures, but this was clearly not enough to reassure the organisers.
Taylor Swift was scheduled to perform in Vienna on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her European tour “Eras” which began in May in Paris. More than 170,000 fans were expected, with an estimated economic impact of around 100 million euros.
Austria has strengthened its preventive measures since a jihadist attack on November 2, 2020, which left four dead, the first to hit this usually very safe country of 9.1 million people.