Taylor Swift’s London shows will go ahead after Vienna terror threat foiled
The singer will play five dates at Wembley Stadium next week.
By Nick Reilly
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that Taylor Swift’s upcoming London shows will not be impacted by the foiled Vienna terror plot.
Swift’s three shows in the Austrian capital were cancelled earlier this week, when police confirmed that two people had been arrested for allegedly plotting an attack at the gigs.
Local reports from Austria say that the suspect had stolen chemicals from his workplace and had built a bomb. It is also claimed that the teenager had planned to drive a car into the crowd outside the Ernst Happel Stadium, and had considered using machetes and knives.
Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, said the main suspect is believed to have been radicalised online. According to The Standard, he had also sworn an online oath of allegiance to Islamic State.
Swift will return to London next week for five more shows at Wembley Stadium, but after initial uncertainty it has now been confirmed that the dates will still go ahead.
The gigs, which kick off next Wednesday, will see the singer supported by Paramore, Raye, Holly Humberstone, Suki Waterhouse and Paramore.
“The Met works closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure there are appropriate security and policing plans in place,” the police confirmed.
“There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London.”
“As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review,” they concluded.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told Sky News: “We are a capital city, we are an international city, on a regular basis we host major events, whether it’s concerts – Bruce Springsteen was most recently at Wembley Stadium – we’re looking forward to welcoming Taylor Swift back.
“We have a huge amount of experience in policing these events, we’re never complacent, many lessons were learnt after the awful Manchester Arena attack.
“I’m sure Vienna has got its own reasons to cancel the Taylor Swift concerts, we’re going to carry on, working closely with police (and) ensuring that the Taylor Swift concerts can take place in London safely.”