Taylor Swift’s 3 Eras Tour concerts in Vienna are canceled after police say they thwarted a terrorist plot
Taylor Swift performs during the European leg of the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift’s next stop on the Eras Tour has been canceled, according to multiple reports.
Swift was scheduled to perform three shows in Vienna this weekend. On Wednesday, Austrian police announced they had thwarted a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium and two men were arrested, per Variety.
Shortly after, Austrian concert promoter Barracuda Music announced the concerts had been canceled via Instagram.
“Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Vienna Shows cancelled due to government officials confirmation of planned terrorist attack,” the organizers wrote. “With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”
The post was reshared by Taylor Nation, the official social media account for Swift’s team. Barracuda Music’s website also lists the concert as canceled.
In a Wednesday press conference, police said they arrested two suspects who “became radicalized by the internet.”
Authorities identified one of the suspects, a 19-year-old Austrian citizen, as a sympathizer of the Islamic State who pledged an oath of allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State at the beginning of July, according to CNN.
Police arrested a second suspect later on Wednesday in Vienna.
The two suspects took “concrete preparatory measures” for an alleged terrorist attack in Vienna, police said. Franz Ruf, public security director at the country’s interior ministry, said Swift’s concerts were a particular focus for the suspects, according to the Associated Press.
Authorities said the 19-year-old suspect had chemical substances and suspected explosives stored at their home.
Before the concerts were canceled, Austrian authorities initially said security would be stepped up at the events.
Barracuda Music said all tickets for the sold-out concerts would be automatically refunded within 10 days. The same message also appeared on Swift’s official website.