Taylor Swift back on stage after canceled Vienna concert amid terrorism threat

Swifties in the UK are ecstatic because Taylor Swift resumed her Eras Tour in London. She'd canceled several concerts due to the threat of a terrorist attack in Vienna.

Police are vigilant to protect the 90,000 spectators, the singer, and her staff against any perceivable terrorist threat. In her concerts, Swift performed with Ed Sheeran, among others.

Three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna were canceled in early August after police discovered that two young men had planned an attack there.

The Austrian security authorities foiled a planned terrorist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna where, reportedly, the suspects wanted "to kill as many people as possible."

Two young men, aged 17 and 19, were arrested. One of them is a sympathizer of the Islamic State and confessed to his plans.

The 19-year-old radicalized online and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Chemical substances and technical devices were found in his house.

The other young man, 17 years old, was arrested near the arena. He refused to give a statement, but police found IS and Al-Qaeda materials in his apartment.

A 15-year-old with a Turkish background was also questioned. He is said to have known about the 19-year-old's plans.

The suspects planned to attack people with knives and explosives in front of the stadium. Thousands of fans were expected to attend the concerts.

The Viennese Ernst Happel Stadium with its 51,000 seats was completely sold out for the Taylor Swift concerts. A total of up to 200,000 fans were expected.

Thousands of people without tickets planned to gather in front of the stadium, as was the case at other concerts across the world. Those people appear to have been most at risk, if the suspects' statements are to be trusted.

International intelligence services played a crucial role in thwarting the attack. Initial evidence pointed to a lone perpetrator, but further investigations led to a known Islamist network.

Authorities confirm that no other people are being sought besides the arrested suspects.

Given the circumstances, concert promoter Barracuda Music canceled the three planned concerts in Vienna. The terror alert level in Austria was also raised.

The disappointment among Swifties was great. Tickets will be refunded, but many fans are left with travel and accommodation costs while losing out on the experience they were dreaming of.  Taylor Swift's fans like to follow the superstar in her travels and visit concerts in various cities.

For their part, the Austrian railways ÖBB and Westbahn have offered to refund purchased train tickets as a goodwill gesture.

Image: Stijn / Unsplash

Even the political leader of Austria, Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler, empathized with the fans: "For many, a dream has been shattered today."

So far, Taylor Swift has not commented on the cancellations. Her last Instagram post refers to concerts in Warsaw.

At her Wembley concerts, she didn't refer to the unfortunate situation in Austria either.

Image: Habib Ayoade / Unsplash

London Mayor Sadiq Khan stresses that the city has much experience with police escorting such events.

Taylor Swift's tour will last for two years. A total of 150 concerts are planned, 51 of which are in Europe. Obviously, fans and authorities hope that there will be no further cancellations.

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