Three Taylor Swift concerts have been cancelled after two men were arrested over an alleged terror plot said to be targeting the events.
Swift was due to play at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
But event organiser Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post on Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety” after “confirmation of [the] planned terrorist attack”.
Fans of the megastar readying to see her earlier this month in Warsaw, Poland. Pic: AP
The popstar’s website also appears to reflect the cancellation.
Under the “tour” tab, the shows in the Austrian capital now have a note which reads: “All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.”
Two men have been arrested in connection with the suspected terror plot which, police said, looked to target major events in Vienna, including the upcoming Swift concerts.
US officials familiar with the investigation have told Sky News’ US partner NBC News, that Austrian law enforcement were still looking for an additional individual, or individuals, who may have knowledge of the alleged plot.
The suspects had been under surveillance for some time and were well known to Austrian authorities, the officials added.
According to Vienna state police director Franz Ruf, one of the men arrested was a 19-year-old who allegedly pledged his allegiance to the terror group IS.
“During our investigations, we identified preparatory actions and noted that the 19-year-old suspect had a particular focus on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” Mr Ruf said.
His arrest took place in the early hours of Wednesday, with the second arrest taking place in Vienna later in the day.
Police said both men had become radicalised online.
They allegedly had specific and detailed plans to carry out the attacks on the concerts, which were expected to draw crowds of up to 65,000 each day.
The cancellation announcement. Pic: Reuters
During the arrest of the 19-year-old Austrian citizen, in Ternitz, Lower Austria, officers found chemical substances which are being investigated as possible components of a bomb.
It was said he would likely have not been able to get all the components needed for a bomb before the weekend’s events, but Austrian authorities decided to take them both into custody so they could not carry out an attack using other means.
According to NBC News, after officials announced a robust security plan for the concerts, Swift’s team said they would be cancelled.
The outlet also said there was no specific plot against Swift herself, but that the attack was focused on the wider event.
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Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer described the cancellation as a “bitter disappointment” but said a “tragedy [had been] prevented”.
He said the situation around the alleged plot had been “very serious” but thanked authorities for their decisive action.
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Austria’s elite Cobra unit provided assistance during the arrests.
There were initially no plans to cancel the concerts, police said, but this later changed.
The cancellation came just hours after Austrian authorities outlined improved security measures for the concerts.
Mr Ruf said there would be, among other things, special focus on entry checks and a greater police presence.
Vienna police chief Gerhard Purstl also said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had been minimised, an abstract risk justified raising security.
