Taylor Swift has broken her silence regarding the cancellation of three Vienna shows on her Eras tour earlier this month, which were called off following the discovery of a terror plot. In an Instagram post, Swift expressed her “tremendous guilt” and “new sense of fear” over the situation, while also conveying her gratitude that authorities were able to prevent a tragedy.
The Foiled Terror Attack: Details of the Plot
The planned attack was thwarted by Austrian authorities, who arrested three teenage suspects—aged 17, 18, and 19—allegedly planning an Islamist attack with Swift’s shows as the primary target. According to Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of state protection and intelligence at the Austrian interior ministry, the 19-year-old suspect intended to commit the attack imminently, with the intent to kill himself and a large crowd of people. The suspect had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group and had become radicalized online. Bomb-making materials were found at his residence.
Taylor Swift’s Emotional Response and Gratitude
In her post, Swift described the emotional toll of the cancellations, writing, “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating… But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.” She thanked her fans for their continued support and unity, and shared that her focus after the cancellations was on ensuring the safety of the nearly half a million people who attended her London shows. Swift and her team worked closely with stadium staff and British authorities to achieve that goal.
A Decision to Remain Silent
Swift acknowledged her decision to remain silent following the Vienna incident, describing it as an act of “showing restraint” and expressing herself when the time was right. She emphasized that her priority was the safe completion of the European leg of the tour, which concluded successfully with five shows in London.
The Impact of the Vienna Cancellations
The Vienna shows, scheduled for August 8 to 10 at the Ernst Happel Stadium, were initially planned to proceed with heightened security. However, they were eventually cancelled due to what Vienna police chief Gerhard Purstl described as an “abstract danger.”
Looking Ahead: The Eras Tour Continues
Swift will resume her Eras tour in North America this November and December, with a series of Canadian shows set to conclude the tour. The Eras tour has become a monumental success, not only as the highest-grossing tour in history, generating over $1 billion, but also for its cultural impact, even causing seismic activity at certain venues.
