Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Plot Arrests

Taylor Swift fans who were eagerly anticipating attending the singer's concerts in Austria this week will unfortunately have to wait a little longer. The concerts have been canceled after authorities uncovered an alleged plot to attack them. Police arrested two suspects, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots and a 17-year-old Austrian with Turkish and Croatian roots. They are believed to have planned an attack on concert attendees using explosive devices and knives.

Taylor Swift's highly anticipated concerts in Austria this week have been canceled after authorities uncovered an alleged terrorist plot to attack them.

Two suspects, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots and a 17-year-old Austrian with Turkish and Croatian roots, have been arrested in connection with the plot.

Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Plot Arrests

According to Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, the 19-year-old suspect was "clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels." He quit his job on July 25 and stated that he "still had big plans."

Investigators found ISIS and Al Qaeda materials at the home of the second suspect. He had recently broken up with his girlfriend and is believed to have wanted to carry out an attack outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible.

Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Plot Arrests

The 19-year-old suspect had downloaded bomb-making manuals and investigators found homemade explosives, detonators, and hydrogen peroxide at his residence. Videos and screenshots of home laboratories were also found on both suspects' phones.

Authorities believe the attack was planned for either Thursday or Friday, and neither suspect had tickets to the concerts. Their names have not been publicly disclosed due to Austrian privacy rules.

Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Plot Arrests

The public security director at Austria's Interior Ministry revealed that the 19-year-old suspect had uploaded an oath of allegiance to ISIS on an internet account a few weeks ago.

The 17-year-old suspect was arrested by special police forces near the stadium where the concerts were supposed to take place. He was employed by a facility company providing services at the venue during the concerts.

Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Plot Arrests

Event organizer Barracuda Music shared on Instagram that "we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety." Swift's website shared that all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.

"Taylor Swift, the Eras Tour Vienna shows canceled due to government officials' confirmation of planned terrorist attack," Barracuda wrote Wednesday on Instagram. "With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety."

Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Plot Arrests

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed gratitude to the emergency services for their quick response in preventing a tragedy. He emphasized that Islamist terrorism poses a threat to security and freedom in many Western countries.

Taylor Swift has not yet publicly commented on the canceled concerts. She is currently on her Eras Tour, which has faced other challenges, including a long list of canceled shows due to ticket-selling issues.

Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Plot Arrests

Fans who purchased tickets to the Vienna concerts can expect to receive a refund within the next 10 business days.