New and alarming details have surfaced following the cancellation of Taylor Swift's three scheduled concerts in Vienna, stemming from a thwarted terrorist plot against the pop star and her fans. The 34-year-old singer was set to perform at the Ernst Happel Stadium, but the shows were abruptly called off after authorities uncovered a suicide attack plan by a group of ISIS-inspired suspects who were hired as part of the event's security team.
Vienna police confirmed that the plot involved three suspects, aged 19, 17, and 15, who intended to carry out a devastating attack on the concertgoers. These individuals had connections within the event's security team, providing them with inside access to the venue. According to the police, the suspects aimed to "bomb the gig and mow down fans" using a combination of explosives and bladed weapons.
Beran A., the 19-year-old Austrian ringleader, allegedly planned to drive a car filled with explosives into the crowd of approximately 20,000 fans expected outside the stadium. He confessed to intending to execute the attack using both explosives and knives. "He wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made," stated Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of Austria's Domestic Intelligence Agency, during a press conference.
The intricate plot was uncovered thanks to a collaborative effort between U.S. intelligence and Europol, which led to the arrests and prevented what could have been a catastrophic event. The suspects had also infiltrated the event's security setup, with one of them being hired to supervise the three concerts. This level of access heightened the threat, prompting immediate action from the authorities.
Taylor Swift, who was in the middle of her European leg of the Eras Tour, had to cancel the Vienna shows, which were expected to draw 65,000 fans each night. Barracuda Music, the promoter for Swift's Vienna performances, announced the cancellations, stating, "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 suspects' homes were raided, uncovering chemical substances such as acetone and hydrogen peroxide, which are commonly used in explosive devices. The 19-year-old suspect had sworn allegiance to ISIS online, further confirming his radicalization. The swift intervention by the authorities averted what could have been a significant loss of life.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer acknowledged the disappointment felt by Swift's fans but emphasized that preventing the attack was paramount. "We live in a time in which violent means are being used to attack our Western way of life. Islamist terrorism threatens security and freedom in many Western countries," Nehammer stated on social media platform X. "This is precisely why we will not give up our values such as freedom and democracy, but will defend them even more vehemently."
Despite the terror threats, Swift is expected to continue her tour, with her next stop being London's Wembley Stadium on August 15. A source close to the singer mentioned, "We are going to keep working for the next shows coming in London after the stop in Austria, but it wasn't an easy day to, that is for sure."
The thwarted attack underscores the ongoing threat of terrorism in public spaces and the necessity of vigilant security measures. The cooperation between international intelligence agencies played a crucial role in averting a disaster, highlighting the importance of global efforts in combating terrorism.
