Taylor Swift Austria Shows Canceled Due To Planned Terrorist Attack
Three upcoming Taylor Swift shows in Vienna, Austria were canceled after local authorities uncovered a terrorist attack plot that targeted the concerts.
Austria concert promoter Barracuda Music shared in a statement, “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. All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.”
The three Eras Tour shows at Ernst Happel Stadium were scheduled for August 8-10. As of publishing, Swift has not commented publicly about the thwarted terrorist attack plot.
Per CNN, police in Vienna said two suspects were arrested on Wednesday (August 7) in connection to the planned terrorist attack. The police said in the press conference that the two suspects “became radicalized by the internet” and noted that one of the suspects had “made an oath of allegiance to the current leader of IS at the beginning of July.”
The police added, “From the current standpoint of the investigation we assume that the target of the attack were events in the Vienna region.”
NBC News cited a 2019 Elle magazine interview from Swift where she opened up about her fears of an attack during a tour. The pop superstar said prior to her “Lover” tour, which ended up be canceled due to Covid, “After the Manchester Arena bombing and the Vegas concert shooting, I was completely terrified to go on tour this time because I didn’t know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months.”
Swift added, “There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe…My fear of violence has continued into my personal life. I carry QuikClot army grade bandage dressing, which is for gunshot or stab wounds.”
The Manchester arena bombing Swift mentioned took place in May 2017 during an Ariana Grande show, which resulted in 23 deaths, including the assailant, and over 1,000 people injured.
The Las Vegas concert shooting Swift mentioned was referencing the October 2017 Route 91 Harvest country music festival. A lone gunman shot over 1,000 rounds from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel at the festival with the aid of a bump stock device, which allows a firearm to fire shots in a similar succession to an automatic weapon. The mass shooting is the deadliest involving a lone gunman in United States history and resulted in the deaths of 60 people and wounded over 800.
