It appears Taylor Swift just narrowly avoided a terrifying attack on her and her fans.
According to law enforcement in Vienna, Austria, where the pop phenomenon had three scheduled shows this weekend that have since been canceled, two suspects have been arrested for allegedly plotting a terror attack. HELLO! has reached out to her team for comment.
The "Lover" singer had Eras Tour stops at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, where police expected her to draw a crowd of 65,000 fans each day, in addition to approximately 10,000 to 15,000 fans outside of the area, similarly to her recent shows in Munich. The three concerts have since been canceled; concert organizer Barracuda Music shared on Instagram: "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Vienna shows cancelled due to government officials confirmation of planned terrorist attack."
"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." Taylor Nation confirmed the cancellation.
Franz Ruf, Vienna director-general for public safety in the Ministry of the Interior, and Police Chief Gerhard Purstl said danger was "minimized," but that an "abstract danger" remained. A 19-year-old Austrian citizen was arrested Wednesday morning, followed by another suspect in the afternoon, they said. The director-general also noted during a press conference that the suspects had allegedly radicalized themselves online.
News of the potential terror plot comes at a time of heightened tension concerning events of and about Taylor, after last week, three young girls were killed, and nine others were injured, in a stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the seaside town of Southport in the United Kingdom.
© GettyAlice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, were the deceased victims.
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Taylor reacted to the stabbing tragedy with a statement on her Instagram Stories, writing: "The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I'm just completely in shock... The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders."
© InstagramShe noted: "These were just little kids at a dance class," and emphasized: "I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families."
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© GettyIn the wake of the attacks, the UK has been engulfed in a series of violent riots with anti-immigrant and anti-Islam sentiment largely fueled by far-right agitators, after false rumors and misinformation spread like wildfire throughout social media about the identity of the 17-year-old suspect of the stabbing, who has not been identified, pursuant to British law regarding minors.
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© InstagramAlready last Sunday, Merseyside Police reported that at least 50 police officers had been injured in responding to the several riots, plus dozens of businesses and private property have been damaged, and per BBC, nearly 400 perpetrators have been arrested.
King Charles is reportedly receiving daily briefings on the matter, per his request.
