The organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts scheduled for this week in Vienna have canceled the events following a government confirmation of a terrorist attack plan at the Ernst Happel Stadium. Barracuda Music, the organizer of the artist's performances, announced the cancellation in an Instagram post on Wednesday night, citing the "confirmation" of a threat at the capital's stadium where the concerts were to take place.
"We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety," read the post.
Taylor Swift was set to perform at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as part of her Eras Tour. The cancellation announcement came after Austrian authorities arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack at an event in the Vienna area, such as Swift's concerts. Swift is the most streamed artist of 2023 on Spotify.
The primary suspect, a 19-year-old, was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, while the second individual was detained in the Austrian capital.
Franz Ruf, director of public security at Austria's Ministry of the Interior, stated that authorities were aware of "preparatory actions" for a potential attack and that the 19-year-old had shown interest in Taylor Swift's concerts. Ruf also mentioned that the young man had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and that chemicals had been confiscated from him, which are currently being analyzed.
The cancellation occurred just hours after an increase in security measures was announced for the concerts, including heightened entry checks.
Gerhard Pürstl, Vienna's police chief, commented that although the specific danger had diminished, the abstract risk warranted the increased security.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed his disappointment over the concert cancellations on social media platform X but emphasized the importance of cooperation between police, Austrian, and foreign intelligence services in identifying and addressing the threat in time to prevent a tragedy.
Barracuda Music informed that all tickets would be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days. The stadium had been sold out for the concerts, with an estimated 170,000 attendees.
Taylor Swift's fans took to social media to express their sadness over missing one of the superstar's shows. Annmarie Timmins, a journalist who traveled from the U.S. for Thursday's performance, shared her shock upon learning of the cancellation while waiting for the subway.
The incident brings to mind the 2017 attack at Ariana Grande's concert in Manchester, England, where a suicide bomber killed 22 people. The official investigation revealed a lack of timely action by MI5—the British intelligence agency—to prevent the attack, one of the deadliest in the UK in recent years.
Questions About Taylor Swift’s Vienna Concert Cancellation
The cancellation of Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna has left many fans and readers with questions. Here are some frequently asked questions about the incident and its implications.
Why were Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna canceled?
The concerts were canceled due to a confirmed terrorist threat targeting the events at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
Who were the suspects arrested in connection with the threat?
A 19-year-old suspect was arrested in Ternitz, and another individual was detained in Vienna. The primary suspect had shown interest in the concerts and had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.
What measures were taken before the concerts were canceled?
Authorities had announced an increase in security measures, including enhanced entry checks, before deciding to cancel the concerts.
How will ticket holders be compensated?
Barracuda Music stated that all tickets would be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.