Three Taylor Swift concerts have been cancelled after two men were arrested linked to an alleged terror plot said to be targeting the events.
Swift was due to play at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
But event organiser Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram late on Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety” after “confirmation of [the] planned terrorist attack”.
Fans of the megastar readying to see her earlier this month in Warsaw, Poland. Pic: AP
The popstar’s website also appears to reflect the cancellation.
Under the “tour” tab, the shows in the Austrian capital now have a note which reads: “*All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days,”.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the suspected terror plot which, police said, looked to target major events in Vienna, including the upcoming Swift concerts.
US officials familiar with the investigation have told Sky News’ US partner NBC News, that Austrian law enforcement were looking for an additional individual, or individuals, who may have knowledge of the alleged plot.
The suspects had been under surveillance for some time and were well known to Austrian authorities, the officials added.
According to Vienna state police director Franz Ruf, one of the arrested was a 19-year-old man who allegedly pledged his allegiance to the terror group IS.
“During our investigations, we identified preparatory actions and noted that the 19-year-old suspect had a particular focus on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” Mr Ruf said.
His arrest took place in the early hours of the morning on 7 August, with the second arrest taking place in Vienna later in the day.
Police said that both men had become radicalised online.
They allegedly had specific and detailed plans to carry out the attacks on the concerts – which police expected to see around 65,000 attendees each day.
During the arrest of the 19-year-old Austrian citizen, in Ternitz, Lower Austria, officers found chemical substances which are being investigated as possible components of a bomb.
Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer described the cancellation as a “bitter disappointment” but said a “tragedy [had been] prevented”.
He said the situation around the alleged plot had been “very serious” but thanked authorities for their decisive action.
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Austria’s elite ‘Cobra’ unit provided assistance during the arrests.
There were initially no plans to cancel the concerts, police said, but this later changed.
The cancellation came just hours after Austrian authorities outlined improved security measures for the concerts.
Mr Ruf said that there would be, among other things, special focus on entry checks and a greater police presence.
Vienna police chief Gerhard Purstl also said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had been minimised, an abstract risk justified raising security.
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