Authorities canceled three Taylor Swift concerts in Austria. Police found a terror attack plot. This decision hit Vienna businesses hard. Fans felt upset and scared.
Taylor Swift had three shows planned in Vienna. They were set for Thursday to Saturday. Barracuda Music, her promoter, canceled them. They said it was for everyone’s safety. Swift’s website also listed the shows as canceled.
Police arrested a 19-year-old Austrian. They said he supported ISIS. The arrest happened in Ternitz, lower Austria. Another arrest happened in Vienna. The suspects got radicalized online. The 19-year-old pledged allegiance to ISIS in July.
Police found explosives at the 19-year-old’s home. They found chemicals too. They are checking these chemicals now. Authorities believe the attack targeted Vienna events. They detained more people but gave no details.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer spoke on the issue. He said the cancellation was a big letdown for fans. But it stopped a tragedy. He talked about the threat of Islamist terrorism. He stressed the need to protect freedom and democracy.
Refunds for Taylor Swift Vienna Concerts to Be Processed Within Ten Days
Barracuda Music said they would refund all tickets. The refunds will happen within ten business days.
Swift’s Eras Tour started in Arizona on March 18, 2023. The tour went through the US, South America, Asia, and Australia. Now it is in Europe. After Europe, the tour goes back to North America.
Canceling the Vienna shows was a hard decision. Swift’s concerts boost local economies. Her London shows added an estimated $380 million. This shows her star power.
Vienna was almost the last stop in Europe. Next, Swift will play five nights in London. Then the tour moves to Canada in November and December. Authorities expected 65,000 people at each Vienna show. Another 15,000-20,000 fans were expected outside the stadium.
Swift posted on Instagram after a show in Poland. She said she looked forward to Vienna. Fans were excited too. Many traveled to Vienna for the concerts. Vanessa Szombathelyi, 24, flew from Ireland. She planned to drive to Vienna. This would have been her first Swift concert.
Concerts have become targets for attacks. In 2015, ISIS attacked the Bataclan theater in Paris. They killed at least 130 people. In 2017, a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester killed 22 people.
Swift has called such attacks her “biggest fear.” She wrote about this in 2019. She worried about fan safety on tour. She carries first-aid gear for emergencies.
This Vienna cancellation reflects these ongoing concerns. Swift and her team prioritize safety above all.
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