Taylor Swift’s Vienna Shows: A Terror Plot, a Cancelled Tour, and a City on Edge

Three Taylor Swift concerts slated to take place this week in Vienna, Austria, have been cancelled due to security concerns after authorities uncovered an alleged terror plot that targets the shows. Austrian police arrested three teenagers in connection with plans for an attack during the concert, which is expected to bring a huge crowd of 65,000 fans every night at Ernst Happel Stadium.

International intelligence reportedly helped Austrian authorities disrupt a suspected plot. According to the country’s Interior Minister, those involved were radicalized online. Three suspects have been detained: two 19-year-olds and a 15-year-old, all of whom were in contact with other individuals who knew about the plans. The investigators were alerted to the activities of two of those arrested, such as quitting a job citing “something big” planned, and the abrupt ending of a relationship.

The police discovered bomb-making chemicals and materials at the home of one suspect, along with extremist propaganda. Given that the threat was credible, promoter Barracuda Music announced a unanimous decision to scrub all three Vienna shows out of safety concerns for the public. The cancelations also appeared on Taylor Swift’s website.

While the news will no doubt leave fans in Austria, and those traveling to attend, extremely disappointed, their safety had to be of the greatest consideration due to the severity of what police foiled. The cancelations are an enormous setback for Vienna businesses, but nothing can compare to the avoidance of potential loss of life from an attack on the concert venues and crowds.