Taylor Swift concerts in Austria have been canceled after two suspects were arrested in an alleged terror plot. The arrests were made by Austrian authorities who say the suspects were planning to attack the concerts.
Taylor Swift concerts in Austria have been canceled after two suspects were arrested in an alleged terror plot, according to Austrian authorities.
The suspects, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots and a 17-year-old Austrian with Turkish and Croatian roots, were arrested on Wednesday.
Taylor Swift Concerts in Austria Canceled After Arrests in Alleged Terror Plot
The 19-year-old suspect had chemical substances and technical devices at his home, while the 17-year-old suspect had a knife and a backpack with bomb-making materials.
According to Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, the 19-year-old suspect was "clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels."
Taylor Swift Concerts in Austria Canceled After Arrests in Alleged Terror Plot
The 17-year-old suspect was reportedly motivated by revenge after breaking up with his girlfriend.
The arrests were made after a tip-off from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Taylor Swift Concerts in Austria Canceled After Arrests in Alleged Terror Plot
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said that the foiled attack was planned for either Thursday or Friday and that neither of the two suspects arrested had any tickets to the concerts.
Their names have not been publicly disclosed due to Austrian privacy rules.
Taylor Swift Concerts in Austria Canceled After Arrests in Alleged Terror Plot
Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s Interior Ministry, told public broadcaster ORF on Thursday that the 19-year-old suspect had uploaded an oath of allegiance to ISIS on an internet account a few weeks ago.
The 17-year-old suspect, meanwhile, was arrested by special police forces near the stadium where the concerts were supposed to take place.
Taylor Swift Concerts in Austria Canceled After Arrests in Alleged Terror Plot
Event organizer Barracuda Music shared on Instagram that "we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety."
Swift's website shared that all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.
Taylor Swift Concerts in Austria Canceled After Arrests in Alleged Terror Plot
"Taylor Swift, the Eras Tour Vienna shows canceled due to government officials' confirmation of planned terrorist attack," Barracuda wrote Wednesday on Instagram. "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."
The concerts were scheduled to take place at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Thousands of fans were expected to attend the concerts, which were part of Swift's Eras Tour.
The tour is in support of Swift's latest album, "Midnights."
