Swift was due to play to a total of 190,000 fans at Ernst Happel Stadion on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
However, organiser Barracuda Music cancelled the Eras Tour shows after Austrian police discovered a plot to target major events in the capital city, including the Swift concerts. Two men were arrested on Wednesday, while police are believed to be seeking to detain other individuals.
According to NBC News, after officials announced a robust security plan for the concerts, Swift’s team said they would be cancelled. The outlet also said there was no specific plot against Swift herself, but that the attack was focused on the wider event.
Vienna state police director Franz Ruf said one of the men arrested was a 19-year-old who allegedly pledged his allegiance to the Islamist terror group IS. When detaining the man, officers found chemical substances which are being investigated as possible components of a bomb.
Chancellor: “Situation was very serious”
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said: “The cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organisers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria. The situation surrounding the apparently planned terrorist attack in Vienna was very serious.
“Thanks to the intensive cooperation of our police and the newly established DSN with foreign services, the threat was recognised early, combated and a tragedy prevented. Many thanks to the emergency services who are currently investigating at full speed.”
Organiser Barracuda Music said: “With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”
Organisers added that all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.
The Eras Tour in Europe
Swift concludes the European leg of the Eras Tour with five dates at London’s Wembley Stadium next week. The European leg, which began in May, has featured shows in France, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Poland.
After Wembley, the artist then returns to North America for nine shows in Canada, concluding in early December.
The tour began in March 2023 and has since played 149 shows across five continents. In late 2023, it became the highest-grossing tour in history as the first tour ever to surpass $1bn in revenue.