Government Confirms Terror Threat, Forces Cancellation of Taylor Swift’s Vienna Shows
Taylor Swift’s concerts were canceled by security agencies due to security threats. This decision was made after an alarm was raised. The concerts were scheduled to be held over three days, from Thursday to Saturday, at the famous Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. These concerts were part of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
Austrian authorities apprehended two individuals who are suspected of planning terrorist attacks on the days of the concerts. This discovery was made on Wednesday.
Those in charge of the concerts released a statement to the public explaining the reasons for the cancellation: “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.”
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They also added that they will refund the ticket fees to those who had already purchased them. The refunds will be processed within 10 working days.
Franz Ruf, the General Director for Public Security in Austria, announced that a suspect, aged 19, was apprehended in Ternitz, Lower Austria, on Wednesday morning. He added that another suspect was apprehended later in the day.
Ruf explained further: “According to the current status of the investigation, the two suspects became radicalized via the internet.”
He also noted that the 19-year-old had pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State at the beginning of July. A large police operation in Ternitz included evacuating nearby houses and searching the suspect’s home. “Chemical substances had been found and are being examined,” Ruf said.
The Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, acknowledged that the cancellation would disappoint many, especially Taylor Swift’s fans, but emphasized that swift action was necessary due to the critical situation and for safety. He commended the police and other security agencies for their quick actions in preventing any potential tragedy.
One of the police chiefs, Gerhard Pürstl, mentioned that the concerts were expected to draw over 65,000 people per day, with about 23,000 additional fans outside the venue based on overall estimates. He added that investigations concerning the issue are still ongoing.
