Organisers of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this week have called them off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts.
Swift was scheduled to play at the Austrian capital’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her Eras Tour through Europe.
Event organiser Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram channel late Wednesday: “We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”
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Authorities said earlier on Wednesday that they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area.
The main suspect, a 19-year-old, was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and a second person was arrested in the Austrian capital.
Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, said that authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack,” the Austria Press Agency reported.
“There is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna.”
Ruf said the 19-year-old had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.
He also said that chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated.
The Austrian citizen is believed to have become radicalised on the internet.