Taylor Swift cancels Vienna concerts due to attack threat

Taylor Swift canceled her concerts in Vienna on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, due to a possible security threat.

The organizers scheduled the shows for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst Happel Stadium.

On Wednesday, authorities arrested two people for allegedly planning Islamist attacks on large events near the Austrian capital.

The organizers announced: “Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone’s safety.”

The statement also mentioned: “All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 working days.”

Franz Ruf, Austria’s General Director for Public Security, announced that authorities have arrested a 19-year-old Austrian citizen.

The arrest took place on Wednesday morning in Ternitz, located in the province of Lower Austria.

He mentioned that a second arrest occurred in Vienna in the afternoon but did not provide any additional details about the suspect.

“According to the current status of the investigation, the two suspects became radicalized via the internet,” Mr Ruf said.

He said the 19-year-old pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State at the start of July.

A major police operation occurred in Ternitz, where the 19-year-old lived.

Officers evacuated several nearby homes while they searched his residence.

Mr. Ruf said that investigators have discovered and are examining chemical substances.

Vienna’s police chief, Gerhard Pürstl, said they had anticipated 65,000 people attending the concerts each day, with an additional 22,000 fans expected outside the venue.

Who is Taylor Swift?

Taylor Swift is an American singer-songwriter known for her autobiographical songwriting and artistic reinventions.

She has had a significant impact on popular culture and garnered widespread public interest.

Swift began her career with country pop albums like Taylor Swift (2006) and Fearless (2008), featuring hits such as “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Love Story,” and “You Belong with Me.”

Over the years, she transitioned to pop music, with albums like 1989 (2014) and Reputation (2017).

Swift’s recent work includes indie folk albums like Folklore and Evermore, as well as re-recordings of her earlier albums.

She is one of the world’s best-selling music artists, with estimated global sales of 200 million records.

About Vienna

Vienna, also known as Wien in German and Wean in Austro-Bavarian, is the capital, most populous city, and one of the nine federal states of Austria.

With just over two million inhabitants, it serves as Austria’s primate city.

The larger metropolitan area, including nearly 2.9 million people, represents almost one-third of the country’s population.

As a cultural, economic, and political hub, Vienna is the fifth-largest city by population in the European Union and lies along the Danube River.

It sits on the eastern edge of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) and is surrounded by Lower Austria.

The city’s rich history, architecture, and vibrant cultural scene make it a must-visit destination.

Ernst-Happel-Stadion

The Ernst-Happel-Stadion, also known as Praterstadion until 1992, is a football stadium located in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Vienna, Austria.

It boasts 50,865 seats, making it the largest stadium in Austria.

German architect Otto Ernst Schweizer designed and constructed the stadium between 1929 and 1931 for the second Workers’ Olympiad.

In 1992, they renamed the stadium in honor of Austrian footballer Ernst Happel after he died.

Notably, it hosted seven games during UEFA Euro 2008, including the final where Spain triumphed over Germany.

The City of Vienna owns the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, which serves as the home ground for the Austria national football team.

Ernst Happel

Ernst Franz Hermann Happel (29 November 1925 – 14 November 1992) was an Austrian football player and manager.

Many consider him one of the greatest managers of all time.

He won league and domestic cup titles in the Netherlands, Belgium, West Germany, and Austria.

Happel achieved remarkable success during his managerial career, which spanned several clubs and national teams.

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