Taylor Swift’s live shows in Vienna, Austria, have been canceled after authorities officers confirmed a terrorist plot linked to the Islamic State group to assault main occasions, organizers stated Wednesday.
“With authorities officers confirming a terrorist assault is deliberate at Ernst Happel Stadium, now we have no alternative however to cancel the three scheduled reveals for everybody’s security,” live performance organizer Barracuda Music stated. In an online post.
The announcement got here shortly after two suspects had been arrested in Austria on Wednesday, one in all whom gave the impression to be planning an assault on a significant occasion within the Vienna space similar to Swift’s live shows over the weekend, authorities stated.
Austrian authorities stated the 2 people had been linked to ISIS.
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The principle suspect, aged 19, was arrested within the city of Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second particular person within the Austrian capital.
Swift’s live shows had been scheduled to happen at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as a part of her live performance program. Eras Tour is a huge success..Vendor of tickets for reveals in Austria He said All tickets might be refunded inside 10 enterprise days.
Franz Ruf, the Austrian inside ministry’s director of public safety, stated authorities had realized of “preparatory measures” for a doable assault “and likewise that the 19-year-old perpetrator had centered on Taylor Swift’s live shows in Vienna,” the Austrian Press Company reported. Ruf stated the live shows had been set to draw an viewers of as much as 65,000 individuals, with 1000’s extra anticipated to collect exterior the stadium.
“A focused raid was carried out this morning” in coordination with numerous state and metropolis legislation enforcement workplaces, Roof stated.
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The Austrian Inside Ministry stated the 2 suspects had grow to be radicalized on-line and made “concrete preparations for a terrorist assault.” Ruf stated the 19-year-old Austrian had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group in July.
Roof added that chemical compounds had been seized on the essential suspect’s house and had been being evaluated. He didn’t present additional particulars.
Earlier than the live performance’s cancellation was introduced, regional police chief Gerhard Borstel stated officers would step up safety measures for the live shows to incorporate plainclothes and uniformed law enforcement officials, video surveillance, a police canine unit and different particular legislation enforcement items.
