American mega-singer Taylor Swift's Vienna leg of her tour has been cancelled after Austria arrested an Islamic State supporter on suspicion of plotting an attack, organisers said on Wednesday.
Authorities had earlier confirmed the arrest of a 19-year-old man, a supporter of a militant group, for allegedly planning attacks in the Vienna area, and warned that he was “focused” on three of Swift's upcoming shows.
“After government authorities confirmed a planned terror attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we are forced to cancel our three scheduled shows for everyone's safety,” Barracuda Music said on Instagram.
Organisers added that all ticket holders would be refunded. Around 65,000 people were expected to attend the shows scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Austria's security chief, Franz Ruff, told a news conference the man had pledged allegiance to IS “in recent weeks” and was detained in southern Austria, about an hour from the capital, early on Wednesday.
“We have established corresponding preparatory acts and have also confirmed that a 19-year-old perpetrator has set his sights on Taylor Swift's Vienna concert,” Ruff said.
He said chemicals were seized from the suspect's home.
A second person believed to have had contact with the suspect was arrested in Vienna.
Initial investigations suggest the two suspects were spreading extremist ideology online.
Police had promised to step up security measures, including deploying special forces to the concert, while minimising any concrete risks.
“Shocking, sad.”
Panic erupted in the official “Swifties” WhatsApp fan group following the announcement that the show was cancelled, with administrators overwhelmed with thousands of messages.
Marie Sereinig, 15, who came from south of the Alps to see the show with her aunt, had been planning her concert outfit for months.
“I'm just shocked and very sad, but I understand why Taylor Swift can't go on stage in this situation,” she told AFP.
Other fans were similarly disappointed.
“I really have no words,” said Flora Zoe Coberwain, a 20-year-old student, adding: “I feel sorry for those who came from far away.”
Conservative First Minister Karl Nehammer said in a post on X that the cancellation was a “huge disappointment” for fans, adding that a “very serious” threat had been addressed early to prevent a tragedy.
The 34-year-old pop star was due to stop in Vienna on Thursday as part of his record-breaking “Eras” tour, which kicked off its European run in Paris in May.
Following France, the tour stopped off in Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Great Britain, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Poland, making a significant impact on the local economies of each destination.
In Austria, news agency APA estimates that more than 170,000 spectators are expected to attend the show, which is expected to bring in revenue of around 100 million euros.
By the end of the year, Eras will be the first tour to surpass $1 billion in ticket sales, and sales are expected to more than double by the time it finishes in Vancouver this December.
Austria experienced its first deadly jihadist attack in November 2020, when a convicted IS sympathizer went on a shooting spree in central Vienna, killing four people and wounding 23 before being shot dead by police.
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