Current:Home > reviewsPolice Weigh in on Taylor Swift's London Concerts After Alleged Terror Attack Plot Foiled in Vienna -MacroWatch
Police Weigh in on Taylor Swift's London Concerts After Alleged Terror Attack Plot Foiled in Vienna
View
Date:2025-04-14 12:51:34
Taylor Swift's concerts in London will go on.
While the “Blank Space” singer's three shows in Vienna were canceled in the wake of a foiled potential terror attack, five shows at Wembley Stadium will take place as scheduled, according to London Metropolitan Police.
"The Met works closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure there are appropriate security and policing plans in place," a spokesperson for the organization told multiple outlets. "There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London."
The spokesperson added, "As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review."
Swift will close out the European leg of her Eras Tour in Wembley, playing five shows from Aug. 15 to Aug. 20.
The confirmation of Swift’s upcoming concerts comes as new information regarding the foiled terror plot continues to emerge.
On Aug. 6, authorities in Austria arrested an Austrian man, 19, over an alleged plot to carry out a suicide attack at a Swift concert in Vienna, which prompted the cancellation of all three of her upcoming shows in the city's Ernst-Happel-Stadion soccer stadium, which were to take place between Aug. 8 and Aug. 10 and draw an estimated 170,000 fans.
"I'm sure Vienna has got its own reasons to cancel the Taylor Swift concerts," London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News. "We're going to carry on, working closely with police [and] ensuring that the Taylor Swift concerts can take place in London safely."
The suspect of the foiled Vienna attack had confessed that he had planned to kill himself and a large number of other people with knives and explosive devices, Austrian officials said in a press conference Aug. 8.
The man, an Austrian citizen with North Macedonian roots, had downloaded manuals for bomb building and authorities found knives, a machete, hydrogen peroxide, homemade explosives, detonators and detonator cables at his apartment, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, director of Austria's domestic intelligence service, told reporters.
The suspect had been planning to attack the tens of thousands of Swift fans expected to gather outside the stadium in Vienna, Haijawi-Pirchner said at the press conference, per Reuters.
Haijawi-Pirchner added that the suspect had consumed radical Islamist propaganda, mainly from Islamic State and Al Qaeda. The official also told Austria’s public broadcaster ORF that the man had uploaded an oath of allegiance to the current leader of Islamic State to an internet account just a few weeks ago, NBC News reported.
In addition to the 19-year-old, police detained two other Austrians aged 17 and 15 in connection with the reported attack plot. Haijawi-Pirchner told reporters Islamic State and Al Qaeda material was found at the home of the older teen, who he said was employed for some days by a company that was to provide unspecified services at the venue for the Swift concerts, NBC News said.
"We have prevented a terrorist attack by a suicide bomber," Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said, via German translation, on X. It is a success that we have prevented any deaths."
Islamic State, also known as ISIS, had claimed responsibility for a 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in the U.K. city that killed 22 people, including children, and injured more than 200.
London's mayor said they were "looking forward to welcoming Taylor Swift back" to his city, where she had performed three concerts in June, when she was joined on and off stage by boyfriend Travis Kelce.
"We have a huge amount of experience in policing these events, we're never complacent," Khan said. "Many lessons were learnt after the awful Manchester Arena attack."
News of the foiled attack plot in Austria comes a week after a man, who recently turned 18, was arrested for allegedly killing three girls at a Swift-themed dance class in Southport. He faces three counts of murder plus 10 counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article over the fatal stabbing. The motive for the attack has not been released.
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (7)
Related
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Puppies and kittens and dolphins, oh my! Watch our most popular animal videos of the year.
- Two men plead guilty in Alabama riverfront brawl; charge against co-captain is dismissed
- Daddy Yankee retiring from music to devote his life to Christianity
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- At UN climate talks, cameras are everywhere. Many belong to Emirati company with a murky history
- Germany’s Scholz confident of resolving budget crisis, says no dismantling of the welfare state
- The Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani $700 million to hit and pitch — but also because he can sell
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Vikings offensive coordinator arrested on suspicion of drunken driving
Ranking
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Two Indiana police officers are acquitted of excessive force in 2020 protesters’ arrests
- Texas Supreme Court temporarily halts ruling allowing woman to have emergency abortion
- Smugglers are bringing migrants to a remote Arizona border crossing, overwhelming US agents
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Rick Rubin on taking communion with Johnny Cash and why goals can hurt creativity
- Third victim ID'd in UNLV shooting as college professors decry 'national menace'
- 'Zombie deer' disease has been reported in more than half the US: What to know about CWD
Recommendation
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Online scamming industry includes more human trafficking victims, Interpol says
Philippines says Chinese coast guard assaulted its vessels with water cannons for a second day
Hundreds of Georgians march in support of country’s candidacy for European Union membership
Intellectuals vs. The Internet
The inauguration of Javier Milei has Argentina wondering what kind of president it will get
Save 56% On the Magical Good American Jeans That Still Fit Me After 30 Pounds of Weight Fluctuation
China is hardening against dissent, rights groups say as they mark International Human Rights Day