Terrorist Threat Cancels Taylor Swift Concerts in Vienna

Two men were arrested in Austria on Wednesday for planning a terrorist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.

Organizers canceled all three of Swift’s shows at the Ernst-Happel Stadium in Vienna, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, after foreign intelligence services informed officials that an attack was being planned. Around 170,000 people were expected to attend the sold-out concerts.

Suspects: A 19-year-old Austrian, who had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State on the Internet, was arrested. Authorities later found chemical substances in his home in Ternitz. A second suspect was arrested in Vienna.

“Both suspects had become radicalized on the Internet and had taken concrete preparatory actions for a terrorist attack,” the Austrian Interior Department said.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the situation was “very serious.”

Thanks to the intense cooperation … the threat was recognized early and a tragedy was averted. Islamist terrorism threatens our security and freedom in many Western countries.
—Karl Nehammer

It is incredibly sad and bitter that the concerts had to be canceled. We must not let ourselves be intimidated by madmen.
—Christoph Wiederkehr, deputy mayor of Vienna

High alert: After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Europe went on high alert. It has been keeping a careful eye on Islam, Iran and the Middle East ever since. The Bible prophesies that Europe will not tolerate Islamic extremism for long.

Learn more: Read The King of the South.