Taylor Swift Cancels Sold-Out Concerts Over Islamic State Terror Plot

Taylor Swift’s sold-out concerts in Vienna, Austria, were cancelled on the eve of opening night after authorities discovered an alledged terror attack plot by terror group Islamic State (IS).

Two people believed to be linked to the terror group Islamic State (IS) were arrested Wednesday in connection with the criminal conspiracy, including a 19-year-old man detained in Ternitz, an hour outside of the capital city where the US pop star was scheduled to perform three back-to-back shows at Ernst Happel Stadium beginning Thursday night.

Authorities reportedly discovered numerous chemicals and other substances at a Vienna apartment on a tip from foreign intelligence services.

A second person was apprehended in the capital, while investigators continue to look for other suspects.

Organizers have already decided to cancel all of Swift’s gigs, claiming they had “no choice” but to pull the plug for safety reasons.

“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,” event promoter Barracuda Music stated in an Instagram post.

Franz Ruf, Austria’s Director General for Public Safety, stated that officials suspected the suspects became radicalised online and pledged loyalty to IS’s leader in July.

“The suspected perpetrator was fixated on Taylor Swift performances. Mr Ruf stated that he discovered preparatory actions.

Earlier, Vienna’s police chief, Gerhard Pürstl, cautioned that despite the arrests, a “abstract danger” remained, with 65,000 people anticipated to attend Swift’s gigs every day, plus an additional 22,000 admirers outside the venue.

According to Kronen Zeitung, a local media outlet, police were anticipating a larger operation if Swift’s gigs went ahead, with long weapons, bomb squads, and K-9 dogs stationed in the vicinity.

It comes one week after Swift’s followers were targeted in northwest England, when three young girls were slain after 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana allegedly went on a stabbing spree at a dance lesson honouring the Grammy-winning singer.

There has yet to be an explanation for Rudakubana’s murders. Swift issued a statement shortly after the incident, expressing her “complete shock” at what had happened.

“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely shocked,” Swift stated in her Instagram story statement.

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