Current:Home > 新闻中心Organizers cancel Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna over fears of an attack -EliteFunds
Organizers cancel Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna over fears of an attack
Fastexy Exchange View
Date:2025-04-10 04:37:37
VIENNA (AP) — Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday 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.
Event organizer Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram channel late Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.” It cited government officials’ “confirmation” of a planned attack at the stadium.
Earlier Wednesday, authorities said they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the upcoming concerts.
The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.
Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, said authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” the Austria Press Agency reported.
Ruf said the 19-year-old had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.
The Austrian citizen is believed to have become radicalized on the internet. Ruf said that chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated. He didn’t give more details.
The cancelation came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be stepped up. Ruf said that there would be a special focus among other things on entry checks and concertgoers should plan a bit more time.
Vienna police chief Gerhard Pürstl said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had be en minimized, an abstract risk justified raising security.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said after the cancelation that the country’s police and intelligence service had “contributed everything to ensure safe events” and that the organizer made the decision to cancel the concerts, APA reported. He said there had been “close networking with foreign security authorities.”
Barracuda Music said that “all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.” The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swift’s official website.
The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria.
Swift fans took to social media to express their devastation at missing out on one of the superstar’s shows. Some who posted on social network X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.
In 2017, an attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.
An official inquiry reported last year that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent Slams Narcissist Tom Sandoval For Ruining Raquel Leviss' Life
- Get $95 Worth of Peter Thomas Roth Skincare Masks for 50% Off
- Melissa Rivers Shares What Saved Her After Mom Joan Rivers' Sudden Death
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- This Is the Only Lip Product You Need in Your Bag This Summer
- Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny’s Matching Moment Is So Good
- JoJo Siwa's Bold Hair Transformation Is Perfect If You're Torn Between Going Blonde or Brunette
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Prince Harry Chokes Up on Witness Stand Amid Phone-Hacking Case
Ranking
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- The story behind the flag that inspired The Star-Spangled Banner
- Seeing Clouds Clearly: Are They Cooling Us Down or Heating Us Up?
- Vanderpump Rules' Raquel Leviss Turns on Tom Sandoval and Reveals Secret He Never Wanted Out
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- DC Young Fly Shares How His and Jacky Oh's Kids Are Coping Days After Her Death
- What’s Behind Big Oil’s Promises of Emissions Cuts? Lots of Wiggle Room.
- Full transcript of Face the Nation, July 2, 2023
Recommendation
South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
Lionel Messi Announces Move to Major League Soccer, Rejecting $400 Million Offer From Saudi Arabia
How Khloe Kardashian Is Setting Boundaries With Ex Tristan Thompson After Cheating Scandal
Human torso brazenly dropped off at medical waste facility, company says
California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
Firework injuries send people to hospitals across U.S. as authorities issue warnings
Why Hailey Bieber Says Her Viral Glazed Donut Skin Will Never Go Out of Style
Utilities Are Promising Net Zero Carbon Emissions, But Don’t Expect Big Changes Soon