Scotland Yard has revealed that it is looking to make a decision about the upcoming Taylor Swift shows at Wembley Stadium, following a foiled terror threat planned for her Vienna gigs.
After playing three sold out nights at the London venue back in June, pop star Swift is set to return to the UK capital later this month for five more shows – featuring support from Raye, Holly Humberstone, Suki Waterhouse and Paramore.
However, now that three of her shows in Vienna have been cancelled following the arrest of two suspects allegedly plotting a terror attack, UK police are debating whether or not the London shows are safe to continue.
Swift was set to play at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium tonight (Thursday, August 8) Friday (9) and Saturday (10), but event organiser Barracuda Music confirmed last night that it had “no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety”.
It came after authorities in the area confirmed that they had arrested two suspected extremists – one of which appeared to be planning an attack on the city, presumably at the shows.
The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital. It was reported by The Standard that the former had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, added that authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack in Austria “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna.”
“We are of course investigating their wider surroundings,” he continued, adding the suspect is believed to have been radicalised on the internet, and that the threat was minimised with the arrests.
Police have now detained three people suspected of plotting attacks, and chemical substances and technical devices were seized at the suspect’s house (as per Standard).
The Kurier newspaper reported that the suspect had stolen the chemicals from his workplace and had built a bomb. It also claimed that the teenager had planned to drive a car into the crowd outside the stadium, and considered using machetes and knives.
Now, when asked about any risk that may be posed for the shows in London, UK Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson stated that the police are now looking into the Wembley gigs and have yet to make an official decision.
“Clearly the police will be looking at all the intelligence and making decisions,” Johnson told LBC Radio. “They risk assess every event that happens in this country.”
According to authorities, the Vienna shows were expected to bring in roughly 65,000 concertgoers per day, with an additional 10,000 to 15,000 fans outside of the area. Prior to the cancellation of the gigs, Ruf had shared that security at the concerts would be increased.
Swift herself has yet to share a comment on the Vienna shows, nor announce any update on the London gigs. NME has reached out to her team for comment.
This is a developing story.
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