Taylor Swift Eras Tour Shows Canceled in Vienna After Arrests Made in Planned Terrorist Attack
Taylor Swift’s three Eras Tour shows have been canceled in Vienna after two men were arrested over an apparent terrorist plot in the area where Swift’s concert was going to take place.
Austrian concert promoter Barracuda Music shared the announcement in a social media post on Wednesday writing, “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Vienna Shows cancelled due to government officials confirmation of planned terrorist attack. 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.”
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The organizers noted that all tickets would be refunded.
StubHub said in a statement, “We are aware of the news regarding the upcoming cancelled Taylor Swift shows in Austria. All StubHub ticket holders will be notified via email, immediately. We will immediately provide StubHub ticket buyers with a 120 percent voucher toward another purchase, in line with our event cancellation policy and our FanProtect Guarantee. Buyers who prefer a 100 percent cash refund can make the request directly in their StubHub wallet.”
According to The Associated Press, authorities announced the arrest of two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area. The Austria Press Agency reported that Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, said they were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack with a focus on Swift’s concerts in Vienna.
The suspect is 19 years old and was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and had reportedly pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group. The second suspect was arrested in the Austrian capital.
Swift has not commented on the arrests or canceled shows.
After the news, comments Swift made in a 2019 interview with Elle, circulated online given the singer addressed having a fear of going on tour amid the Manchester Arena bombing and the Las Vegas concert shooting that occurred at the time.
“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,” she said. “There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe.”
She also shared at the time that she carried “QuikClot army grade bandage dressing, which is for gunshot or stab wounds.” She added, “Websites and tabloids have taken it upon themselves to post every home address I’ve ever had online. You get enough stalkers trying to break into your house and you kind of start prepping for bad things.”
The singer is currently on the international leg of her Eras Tour.
Aug. 7, 3:16 p.m. Updated with StubHub statement.
Aug. 8, 1:03 p.m. Updated with Swift’s comments from a 2019 interview.
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