Concert cancellations in Vienna: threat was "very serious"
For around 200,000 Taylor Swift fans, it's a bitter disappointment, but according to the police, the right decision: The promoter cancels all three planned shows in Vienna due to concerns about a terrorist attack at the last minute. Investigators found chemical substances in the home of a 19-year-old Islamist.
The Austrian police are investigating at full speed after the arrest of two terror suspects and the cancellation of all Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna. A 19-year-old radicalized Islamist had prepared attacks and had his sights set on the pop star's shows in the capital, according to security authorities. As a precaution, the three mass events scheduled for this week were cancelled within 24 hours of Swift's first planned appearance on Thursday. According to the Austrian government, the threat level was "very serious."
While the 19-year-old and another person were arrested, the police did not disclose the latter's age or relationship to the teenager for tactical reasons. However, possible accomplices were a concern for the organizers. Various media outlets reported, citing security sources, that further suspects were being sought. The police would not confirm this. Otherwise, little was initially disclosed about the investigation.
All of Swift's concerts on her tour were sold out, including those in Vienna. Each evening, 65,000 people were expected at the Ernst Happel Stadium, and the police estimated that there would be an additional 15,000 to 20,000 Swift fans in the stadium's vicinity.
Chancellor Nehammer: "A tragedy prevented"
"The cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the promoters is a great disappointment for all fans in Austria," Chancellor Karl Nehammer wrote on X. "The situation around the apparently planned terrorist attack in Vienna was very serious. Thanks to the intensive cooperation of our police and the newly established DSN (Directorate for State Security and Intelligence) with foreign services, the threat was recognized, combated, and a tragedy prevented."
Investigators searched premises in Ternitz, about 75 kilometers southwest of Vienna, all day Wednesday. The 19-year-old was also arrested there. In the evening, specialists were still on site. The police did not disclose whether data carriers such as computers or mobile phones were seized. The second arrest took place in Vienna.
The 19-year-old Austrian was active on relevant platforms on the internet. He had radicalized himself via online forums, the police reported. And he had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist organization just last July.
The fact that the attack plans may have been quite advanced is suggested by the discovery of chemical substances in the rooms. Investigators were working there in protective suits. What exactly the teenager had planned remains unclear.
No replacement concerts planned
"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 the safety of all," Barracuda Music announced. No replacement is planned. Taylor Swift is booked for further concerts in London. "All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 working days," Barracuda Music announced.
Swift's management initially only referred to the promoter's statement and did not comment further. The 34-year-old is believed to have been in Austria, but this was not confirmed.
Fans known as "Swifties" reacted deeply disappointed, but also showed understanding for the cancellation. "Can't believe it," one wrote under the Instagram post by Barracuda Music announcing the cancellation. "My heart is broken," someone else wrote. Many fans of the musician still considered the cancellation the right decision given the apparently very real terror threat.
After the arrests, police were asked if they thought cancelling the concerts was appropriate. The Viennese police president, Gerhard Pürstl, dodged the question, saying that making such recommendations wasn't their role. However, he made it clear that while the arrests had minimized the immediate threat, a "general threat" still remained.
The European Union expresses solidarity with Austria in the aftermath of the terror threat and the cancellation of Taylor Swift's concerts, offering any necessary assistance in the investigation. Given the seriousness of the situation, the European Union's Counter-Terrorism Coordinator issued a statement emphasizing the importance of shared intelligence and collaboration among member states in combating terrorism.
