By Jesusemen Oratokhai
American singer Taylor Swift’s three concerts in Vienna, scheduled for this week, have been cancelled following a confirmed Islamist attack plot. The cancellation was announced by show organiser Barracuda Music late on Wednesday, after the government verified a planned attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
Austria’s Chancellor, Karl Nehammer, stated that a tragedy was prevented due to the swift action taken. In an Instagram post, Barracuda Music explained, “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.”
All tickets purchased for the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday concerts will be refunded. Earlier, the government had confirmed the arrest of a 19-year-old Islamic State sympathiser, who had allegedly planned an Islamist attack in the Vienna region, with a focus on Swift’s upcoming shows.
Austria’s top security chief, Franz Ruf, revealed during a press conference that the suspect, who had pledged allegiance to IS in recent weeks, was detained in Lower Austria, about an hour from the capital, early on Wednesday.
