Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in Austria later this week have called them off after officials announced arrests in an apparent plot to launch an attack on a Vienna-area event like the concerts.
Swift was due to play at the Austrian capital’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is not yet known if there is any threat to Wembley Stadium, London, next week.
Event organizer Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram channel late Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety”.
Earlier on Wednesday, August 7, authorities said they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area, such as upcoming concerts.
The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.
Franz Ruf, head of public security at Austria’s interior ministry, said authorities were aware of “preparatory measures” for a possible attack “and also that the 19-year-old perpetrator is focusing on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” Austria’s press agency reported.
Mr Ruf said the 19-year-old had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Mr. Ruf said that chemical substances were secured and evaluated. He did not provide further details.
