Taylor Swift concerts canceled after ISIS plot narrowly foiled by police
Three Taylor Swift shows have been canceled on the European leg of her Eras tour after police narrowly thwarted an ISIS plot to attack her concerts in Vienna — and authorities warned there could be other threats.
Swift’s sold-out Vienna shows – slated for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – were called off after the terror scare, her Austrian show promoter Barracuda announced.
“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,” the promoter said in a post on Instagram.
Two suspects — a 19-year-old living in his parents’ house near Vienna, along with another man — were arrested Wednesday after police raided the home, according to the Austrian outlet Kronen Zeitung.
A bomb squad found various chemicals and substances potentially being used to make explosives, and evacuated the home.
The pair were allegedly targeting Swift’s concerts at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, where she is scheduled to play Thursday through Saturday night to sold-out crowds, according to Kronen Zeitung.
“The suspects were focused on the Taylor Swift concerts. We discovered that he was taking action to prepare for the attack,” said Austrian Director General for Public Safety Franz Ruf.
“A clear threat has been averted,” he said, adding that authorities had not yet declared the concerts entirely safe and were still investigating other accomplices, according to Kronen Zeitung.
Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium was the target of a foiled ISIS plot, according to reports.Bruno Coelho – stock.adobe.com
The 19-year-old suspect is an Austrian national, and is believed to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic terror group in July.
He and the other suspect are believed to have become radicalized online.
Security plans have been increased at the concerts.
Swift is scheduled to play at the stadium from Thursday to Sunday.Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP
It was not the first time Islamic extremists have targeted a pop concert.
Austrian authorities said the suspect is believed to have pledged allegiance to ISIS in July.Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
In 2017, 22 people were killed when extremist Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a homemade bomb at Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, England.
More than 200 people were injured, and nearly 1,000 reported suffering severe psychological trauma in the fallout.
The bomber was killed in the explosion, but his brother, Hashem Abedi, later admitted to helping plot the attack and was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
On July 29, three girls were killed when a hooded 17-year-old burst into a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England, and began slashing attendees with a knife.
Nine others were injured, several of whom were parents trying to defend their kids.
The motivation behind that attack remains unknown, and false rumors surrounding it sparked riots across the country.
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