Inside Taylor Swift’s Vienna Concert Planned Terrorist Attack: Updates Amid Canceled Shows

Taylor Swift’s Vienna, Austria, shows of the Eras tour were canceled after government officials confirmed that the concerts were the target of “planned terrorist attacks.”

The Grammy-winning artist was scheduled to perform at Ernst Happel Stadium on August 8, 9, and 10.

Police Raid Suspect’s Home

Officials raided a 19-year-old suspect’s home on August 7, 2024, in connection to the alleged attacks in Ternitz. The teen reportedly lives with his parents and police found substances and chemicals inside their house, according to Variety.

Suspects Arrested

Later that day, the teen suspect was arrested while a secondary suspect was detained in Vienna. Both are alleged to be extremists.

The public security director at Austria’s interior ministry Franz Ruf told The Austria Press Agency that authorities were made aware of the “preparatory actions” for a possible attack “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna.”

On August 9, 2024, a third suspect was arrested in connection with the case. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the 18-year-old Iraqi teenager had connections with the main suspect, according to multiple reports. CNN reported that the ministry stated that this suspect and the main suspect “had recently pledged allegiance to ISIS.”

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Taylor Swift’s Vienna Show Canceled

“Taylor Swift | The Eras tour Vienna shows canceled due to government officials confirmation of a planned terrorist attack,” Barracuda Music, the host of the event, wrote via Instagram later that day. “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 has yet to publicly address the heartbreaking events.

Travis Kelce Allegedly Targeted at Morgan Wallen Concert

On August 2, 2024, it was alleged that Taylor’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, was one of two targets of a “terroristic threat” at a Morgan Wallen concert at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

The suspect, Aaron Brown, threatened two unidentified Kansas City Chiefs NFL players via X, according to court documents reported by multiple outlets.

“Mr. [redacted] at Arrowhead with the wife. If he brings out [redacted] or [redacted] I’ll take the f–kin shot. F–k em!” the threat read. “Also f–k you bitch!! (hand emoji with middle finger up twice) @[redacted].”

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Travis was at the country concert with teammate Patrick Mahomes and his pregnant wife, Brittany Mahomes. At one point in the show, the professional athletes took the stage with the “Cowgirls” singer.

Police contacted Brown via cell phone, and he told officials where he and his girlfriend were sitting at the concert. They arrested him onsite.

“The defendant confirmed to police where he was located at Arrowhead. The concert was delayed for 40 minutes while the defendant was located,” the court documents read per Variety. “The defendant was charged earlier today and a $15,000 bond was set.”

Alleged Plans for Attack at Taylor Swift’s Vienna Concert Revealed

The 19-year-old key suspect in the alleged scheme reportedly planned to “drive a car into the 20,000 fans” standing outside the stadium before attacking them with “machetes and knives,” according to The Mirror. The suspect also allegedly planned to build a “well advanced” bomb using the chemical substances found at his home.

Swifties Gather to Support Each Other in Vienna After Cancellations

Despite the concerts being canceled, fans of Taylor in Vienna found ways to spread their love for the singer and support each other during the uncertain time. On August 8, 2024, journalist Nicole Auerbach shared photos of hundreds of Swifties flooding a street in the Austria capital.

“Greetings from Cornelia Street in Vienna, where the Taylor Swift shows have been canceled — and it’s packed with people trading bracelets and singing songs,” she captioned the post.

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Meanwhile, Olivia Levin, who runs a fan account on Instagram called Swifties for Eternity, took to her page on August 7, 2024, with a collection of screenshots sharing stories of fans connecting with each other on social media after the concerts were canceled. One woman revealed that she “came to Vienna alone” and had nobody to trade friendship bracelets with, but other concertgoers reached out to her and made plans to take her to brunch. Another person shared that her sister was also “stuck in Vienna alone” and made plans with other solo concertgoers.

Nikki Glaser Parodies Taylor Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer’ After Canceled Vienna Shows

Comedian Nikki Glaser took to Instagram on August 7, 2024, with a video of herself and her sister, Lauren Glaser, at the airport after the Vienna concerts were canceled. She took the opportunity to reveal in a parody of Taylor’s song “Cruel Summer” that they had just learned of the cancellation.

“We’re stuck at an airport gate,” Nikki sang before switching off lines with her sister. “On our way to Vienna on a flight that was late/ Oh, planning outfits and singing songs/ We had no idea how things could go wrong/ Then we get a text from our mom/ That the shows have been canceled because of a threat from a bomb/ And we screamed in Hudson News/ What the hell do I do with these goddamn sparkly shoes?/ I dyed my hair pink for nothing/ We’re f–ked.”

Taylor Swift Breaks Silence on Canceled Vienna Shows

While Taylor originally kept quiet after the shows in Vienna were canceled, she addressed the situation while reflecting on her concerts in London, England.

After she performed five shows at Wembley Stadium, the “Foolish One” singer took to Instagram to discuss her stint in London on August 21, 2024.

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“We have officially wrapped the European leg of The Eras Tour. With it came the most passionate crowds I’ve ever played for, new traditions in the show and an entirely new era added in. It was a more hectic pace than we’d done before, and I’m so proud of my crew/fellow performers for being able to physically perform that show and build our massive stage, take it apart and make magic with so few days in between for recovery and travel,” she wrote alongside photos from the five shows. “They’re the most impressive people I know and I’m so lucky they gave The Eras Tour their time, their energy and their expertise.”

She added that performing the London shows was a “rollercoaster of emotions” after the Vienna shows were canceled. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows,” Taylor wrote. “But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives. I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together.”

“I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us,” she added. “Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows.”

Taylor explained that she believed remaining silent showed “restraint” and she was “waiting to express” herself when the time was right. “My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that,” she said. “And then London felt like a beautiful dream sequence. All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy and exuberance. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there.”