American pop star Taylor Swift has had her three scheduled concerts in Vienna canceled due to a planned Islamist attack. The cancellation was confirmed after the Austrian government revealed the plot targeting the concerts at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
The show organizer, Barracuda Music, made the announcement late Wednesday, citing the need to ensure the safety of all attendees. Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed relief that a potential tragedy was averted.
In an Instagram post, Barracuda Music stated, “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 post also mentioned that refunds would be issued for tickets purchased for the concerts slated for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The cancellation follows the arrest of a 19-year-old sympathizer of the Islamic State (IS) group, who had been planning an attack in the Vienna region with a specific focus on Swift’s concerts. Austria’s top security chief, Franz Ruf, disclosed that the suspect, who had recently pledged allegiance to IS, was detained early Wednesday in Lower Austria, approximately an hour from Vienna.
