Taylor Swift’s Vienna Concerts Cancelled Due to Terror Threat, Austrian Chancellor Announces
Taylor Swift’s three concerts in Vienna this week were cancelled after Austrian authorities confirmed a planned attack at the stadium, the organizer announced late Wednesday. Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated, “a tragedy was prevented.”
Nehammer praised the “intensive cooperation” between Austrian police and the Directorate for Security and Intelligence (DSN) with international agencies, which led to early identification and neutralization of the threat.
Barracuda.music, the concert organizer, confirmed the cancellation in an Instagram post, stating that all tickets would be automatically refunded. “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 read.
Austrian police detained two individuals suspected of plotting attacks on the concerts. Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security, revealed at a news conference that one suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian citizen who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, had shown particular interest in the Taylor Swift concerts. Another suspect was later arrested in Vienna.
Police searched the residence of one suspect in Ternitz, Lower Austria, and were analyzing items found there. Local media reported that three suspects are still at large.
Before the cancellation, police had planned to proceed with the events under heightened security measures, including increased entry checks and the deployment of anti-terror and bomb disposal teams.
The cancelled concerts were part of Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, which began in March 2023 and is scheduled to end in December 2024. Swift’s next scheduled performances are in London, where six concerts are set to take place at Wembley Stadium starting August 15.
Swift has not yet commented on the cancellations on her official Instagram account. Her European tour has been a major success, with sold-out shows across the continent.
