Taylor Swift’s three shows in Vienna this week have been cancelled after two suspected extremists were arrested for allegedly plotting terror attacks.
Police arrested a 19-year-old in Ternitz and a second suspect in Vienna on Wednesday, with one considering a Swift concert as a possible event to attack.
Authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack, said Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry. He said the 19-year-old had been looking at Swift’s Vienna concerts as a potential target.
About half of the around 15,000 residents in Ternitz – a small town in lower Austria, in the eastern foothills of the Alps – had to be evacuated as police descended on the first suspect’s address on Wednesday.
Chemical substances being evaluated
Mr Ruf said the 19-year-old, an Austrian national with North Macedonian roots, had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group weeks before and is believed to have been radicalised online.
He said chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated.
The Swift concerts were scheduled to take place at Vienna’s Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her Eras Tour.
“We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” a message from Barracuda Music said. “All tickets will be automatically refunded.”
Wednesday’s arrest of the teenager came after a tip-off from foreign security authorities. Officials told the public that “a concrete threat has been averted”, but warned that an “abstract threat” still existed.
The Ernst-Happel-Stadion was placed on high alert during the Euro 2008 football tournament amid fears of an attack by Islamist extremist groups.
Swift’s Eras Tour returns to Wembley Stadium in London for five dates from Aug 15.