Vienna, 8 August 2024 (TDI): Taylor Swift’s three upcoming concerts in Vienna have been cancelled following a possible security threat.
The shows, part of the pop star’s Eras tour, had been due to take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
On Wednesday, two people were apprehended on suspicion of planning attacks on large events in the area around Vienna.
A statement from the organisers said that due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the planned shows for everyone’s safety.
All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next ten working days, the statement added.
Earlier, Austria’s General Director for Public Security, Franz Ruf, said a 19-year-old Austrian national was nabbed on Wednesday morning in Ternitz in the province of Lower Austria.
He said a second arrest took place in the Austrian capital in the afternoon, but provided no further details about the suspect.
Ruf said that according to the current status of the probe, the two suspects became radicalised via the internet.
He said the 19-year-old made an oath of allegiance to so-called Islamic State at the start of July.
Police operation
A police operation took place in Ternitz, where the 19-year-old lived. Many houses nearby were evacuated while his home was searched.
Ruf said chemical substances had been found and were being examined.
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Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a post on social media platform X that the cancellations would be a bitter disappointment for all fans but that the situation had been very serious.
Thanks to the intensive cooperation of the police and security agencies with foreign services, the threat was recognized early, combated and a tragedy prevented, he said.
The head of police in Vienna, Gerhard Pürstl, said 65,000 people per day had been likely to attend the concerts, as well as 22,000 fans outside the venue.
Investigations to the matter are continuing.
