Vienna: Three of the scheduled shows of pop singer Taylor Swift in Vienna have been cancelled due to a potential security risk.
The shows which was the part of Swift’s Eras tour, had been scheduled to be at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Previous day, two persons were detained on suspicion of organizing Islamic attacks on major gatherings in the vicinity of the Austrian capital.
A statement from the organisers stated that, “Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone’s safety. All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 working days.”
A 19-year-old Austrian national was taken into custody on Wednesday morning in Ternitz, in the Lower Austrian region, according to a statement made earlier by Franz Ruf, Austria’s general director for public security.
Franz Ruf also mentioned about the second arrest that took place in Vienna in the afternoon, but doesn’t give any further details about the suspect. Ruf said that, “According to the current status of the investigation, the two suspects became radicalised via the internet.“
According to him the 19-year-old made “an oath of allegiance” at the beginning of July to so-called Islamic State. Mr Ruf mentioned that during the investigation chemical substances had been found and were being examined.
A large police operation was conducted in Ternitz, where the 19-year-old lived. While his residence was being searched, several neighboring houses were evacuated.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer commented in the post that was posted in X that the cancellations of the shows would be a “bitter disappointment for all fans” but the situation had been “very serious”.
According to Gerhard Pürstl, the head of police in Vienna almost 65,000 people per day had been expected to attend the concerts and almost 22,000 fans were expected outside the venue. Investigations are still progressing.
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