Hours after this weekend’s run of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shows in Vienna were canceled because of a suspected terrorist plot, fans from around the globe who were planning to attend are instead grappling with concerns over safety in the city.
Two men were arrested in Vienna on Wednesday in connection with a suspected plan to attack major events in the city, with a focus on Swift’s concerts, which were set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Austrian authorities said.
Two U.S. officials familiar with the investigation said Austrian law enforcement is looking for an additional person or people who may have some knowledge of the suspected attempt.
Officials at first said the shows would go on with heightened security measures in and around the concerts, but Barracuda Music, an event organizer in the city, posted Wednesday evening on Instagram that it had “no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”
The message was reposted by Taylor Nation, an account run by Swift’s team. Swift has yet to share any official news of the cancellation, but her official website reflects the change in plans and says all ticketed fans will get refunds. It is unclear whether the shows will be rescheduled.
Concert or no concert, Swifties are still set to descend on the city.
Swifties are anxious amid security scare
Sebastian Gonzalez, 27, of Mexico City, was in his hotel room in Belgrade, Serbia, with plans to travel Friday to Vienna when he learned of the show’s cancellation.
He said he was tagged on X, and then his WhatsApp group began going wild. When it was finally confirmed the news was accurate, he was heartbroken.
“I feel, like, more calm right now, but in that moment, it was just, like, very shocking for me,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez has spent weeks traveling around Europe and following Swift. He saw her perform in Munich and had planned to see her on the final night in Vienna. He said that he had started to feel homesick for Mexico City but that knowing he would see Swift again was keeping him excited about his travel plans.
He said he doesn’t know what to expect when he gets to Vienna: “I don’t know how the tension in the city of Vienna is going to be like after this.”
Gonzalez said he saw plans on social media for Swifties to meet up but intends stay away from large crowds of fans as a precaution. He said he still intends to enjoy the city as much as he can while he’s there.
Officials in Europe and in the U.S. told NBC News that there was no specific plot to injure Swift herself and that the attack was focused on the event. Officials didn’t explicitly say fans were targeted.
While he won’t see Swift as planned, Gonzalez said safety is his top priority.
“I feel sad because, you know, I’m spending all this money to travel and all that stuff, but at the end of the day, I know it’s my safety,” he said.
Friends Ince Wright, 23, of Amsterdam, and Eline Niemeijer, 22, of Groningen, Netherlands, heard the news in the airport awaiting their flight to Vienna.
They first heard cancellation rumors from a fan account but didn’t believe them until Taylor Nation posted the message from Barracuda Music.
Wright and Niemeijer said there were lots of Swifties on their flight, also heading to the show, who were streaming Swift’s song “Long Live” at the airport in support of Swift and to stay positive.
When they spoke to NBC News, it was nearly midnight in Europe.
Despite the cancellations, they’re still going to Vienna.
“We have to go,” Wright said. “We don’t really have a choice because last-minute flights, it’s super expensive, and we already planned it.”
But, Wright said, “we’re not really comfortable in Vienna right now, because there’s still a threat, I guess, because they didn’t cancel the concert for nothing.”
The pair, who are students in the Netherlands, were on a summer trip together. Wright said he never expected this “because it’s such a joyful event, the Eras Tour.”
“We’re still really stressed right now,” Wright said, adding that they are “trying to go back to our home country as soon as possible.”
Fans are quick to back Swift
Niemeijer said anyone who might be mad at Swift for canceling the shows “can’t be entitled.”
“What if something bad happens, what if people get injured, or even worse, you know? Like safety is first,” she said. “Taylor’s team handled it very well and quickly. Amazing.”
Swift has been outspoken about safety at her concerts, telling Elle magazine in 2019 that her biggest fear was something like this happening at one of her shows.
“After the Manchester Arena bombing and the Vegas concert shooting, I was completely terrified to go on tour this time because I didn’t know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months,” Swift said ahead of the Lover Tour, which was then canceled because of Covid.
She added, “There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe.”
“My fear of violence has continued into my personal life,” she said. “I carry QuikClot army grade bandage dressing, which is for gunshot or stab wounds.”
Christine Mooijer, of Amsterdam, hopes Swift reschedules the shows, “especially for the fans that never got to see her before, but I also know it’s difficult to offer anything right now.”
She already saw the Eras Tour in Amsterdam, but she said she sat in the nosebleeds. This time around, she had better tickets with a friend.
Mooijer and her friend will also still travel to Vienna, where they will plan to do different things in the city before her flight home in a few days.
“No one blames Taylor for making this very hard decision. She must feel enormous pressure to keep everyone around her safe,” Mooijer said. “I’d rather not have the feeling of being unsafe at the show anyway, as that’s not what the Eras tour is supposed to feel like. It’s supposed to be one of the most magical nights, where we as women get to experience girlhood in ways we never have.”
The sentiment was echoed on X, as well.
“the way eras has been such an outlet for young girls and women to enjoy themselves and feel safe seeing their favourite artist who helped raise and shape most of their lives, people were so excited this is heartbreaking,” a user wrote. “i’m so sorry vienna swifties, the world is so cruel.”
Another pointed out how quick work from officials in Austria prevented anything catastrophic from taking place, which kept fans safe.
Swift’s next and final European stop will be a stint of five shows at London’s Wembley Stadium.
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