Taylor Swift ’s upcoming concerts in Austria were the target of an alleged terror plot. Authorities in Vienna confirmed to NBC News Aug. 7 that two men have been arrested in connection to planned attacks targeting major events in the city, including the “Karma” singer’s upcoming Eras Tour shows on Aug.
8, Aug. 9, and Aug. 10, which have been cancelled.
One of the suspects taken into custody is a 19-year-old man who had allegedly pledged allegiance to the Salafi-jihadist group ISIS, Vienna State Police Director Franz Ruf and the head of the State Police Gerhard Purstl said during a press conference Aug. 7. The authorities also noted, per NBC News, another arrest was made later that afternoon.
Authorities explained that the arrested suspects had “detailed” plans to carry out an attack, and the 19-year-old had been found with chemical substances which authorities are currently trying to determine whether could be used to make a bomb. Swift’s upcoming shows at Ernst Happel Stadium have been canceled, according to a post shared by event organizers Barracuda Music shortly after authorities confirmed the arrests. Her website has since begun issuing refunds to ticketholders.
E! News has reached out to reps for Swift regarding the arrests and cancelation, but has not yet heard back. The arrest comes less than a month after an individual was arrested prior Swift’s concert in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, due to threats against Swift and her boyfriend Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , both 34. According to the Associated Press , a 34-year-old man had purchased a ticket for the Miss Americana star’s July 17 concert, but was arrested upon entry into the Veltins-Arena, following “tips from organizers of the event.
” And while Swift did not publicly address the previous arrest, she had spoken adamantly before about the precautions she has in place to keep her shows, fans and loved ones safe—calling any violence at her shows her “biggest fear” after the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert and shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in 2017. “I was completely terrified to go on tour this time because I didn’t know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months,” she wrote in an essay for Elle in 2019. “There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe.
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