Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ tour has been thrown into turmoil today as authorities confirm that two suspected extremists have been arrested after plotting an attack in the Vienna area where Swift was due to perform.
Following confirmation of the plot, promoters have cancelled three weekend shows scheduled for the Austrian capital's Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
"We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety," event organiser Barracuda Music said in a post on Instagram.
Austrian Director General for Public Safety Franz Ruf said that a threat hat been “averted” after the suspects became radicalised online, pledging allegiance to the Islamic State on social media last month. Two men were arrested including one in Vienna and a 19 year old in nearby Ternitz.
“The suspected perpetrator was focused on the Taylor Swift concerts. Preparatory actions were detected,” Mr Ruf said according to the Austrian Press Agency. Austrian media are reporting that further suspects are being investigated. While authorities did not mandate the cancelling of the concerts, it is understood that the promoter in discussions with them decided that cancellation would be the safest option as more details come to light.
Vienna’s head of police Gerhard Pürstl warned an “abstract danger” remained with 65,000 people attending Swift’s shows each day and over 20,000 expected to be outside the venue as has been seen across other Eras tour dates around the world. Tickets will be refunded within the next ten days.
Swift has yet to comment on the situation
