Three of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tours dates in Austria have been canceled after police were alerted to the threat of a planned attack at the shows.
As reported by the Guardian, Austrian authorities have apprehended a 19-year-old man suspected of planning an Islamist attack in the Vienna region, in connection with upcoming concerts by American pop star Taylor Swift.
The suspect, who recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group, was arrested early Wednesday in Lower Austria, about an hour from Vienna, according to Austria’s top security chief, Franz Ruf.
“We have established corresponding preparatory acts and also that there is a focus of the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” Ruf stated during a press conference.
The man, an Austrian citizen, is believed to have been radicalized online. Chemical substances were seized from his home and are currently under evaluation, Ruf added.
A second individual, thought to have been in contact with the suspect, was also detained in Vienna.
The shows, scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as part of Swift’s Eras tour, were expected to draw 65,000 spectators each night.
Vienna Police Chief Gerhard Pürstl confirmed that the immediate threat had been mitigated but acknowledged the persistence of an “abstract danger.”
Following these arrests, it has now been confirmed that the three planned shows have been canceled, as reported by BBC News.
“We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” management company Barracuda Music said in a statement. “All tickets will be automatically refunded.”
Swift is yet to comment on the ongoing situation.