Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna were cancelled, but her fans still flocked to the streets to show their support for the singer.
On Thursday, the singer’s first night in Vienna, the Swifties met near Austria’s Ernst Happel Stadium to sing songs and exchange friendship bracelets – a tradition of the Eras tour.
In videos posted online, fans occupied entire city blocks while belting out some of Swift’s biggest hits, including “Cruel Summer,” “Champagne Problems,” “New Romantics” and more.
Despite the frightening situation, the potential concert-goers seemed to be in good spirits as they danced and mingled with other fans.
“People were crying, holding hands and singing along quietly,” one woman told CNN of the scene. “It was such a beautiful moment, a spot of beauty in the midst of the disappointment and anger.”
Some businesses also joined forces to offer encouragement to heartbroken fans. Several hotels offered free streaming of the documentary “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” and some restaurants and bars handed out free or heavily discounted food.
The famous Albertina Museum, one of the largest museums of modern art in Central Europe, also offered ticket holders free admission over the weekend.
The 34-year-old “Fortnight” singer was supposed to perform three sold-out shows in Vienna this weekend, but she had to cancel her concerts after police foiled a terrorist attack on the venue.
“Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour performances in Vienna have been cancelled due to confirmation of a planned terrorist attack by government officials,” the band said in an Instagram statement on Wednesday. “After government officials confirmed a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned performances for everyone’s safety.”
Austrian authorities also announced the arrest of a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old suspect who they believe have links to IS.
On Thursday, the head of Austria’s state security and secret service, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, announced that the elderly suspect had planned to “carry out an attack with explosives and knives” at Swift’s concert.
“His goal was to kill himself and a large number of people during the concert today or tomorrow,” Haijawi-Pirchner said, according to NBC News.
According to reports, the youths had planned to drive a car filled with bombs into the crowd and kill as many concertgoers as possible using homemade explosives and machetes.
The 19-year-old had chemical substances – such as hydrogen peroxide – and detonators in his house, which he reportedly shared with his parents.
The younger suspect, meanwhile, is said to have only recently been hired as security for the concert venue.
The two men are said to have been radicalized by IS on the Internet. When searching the 17-year-old’s apartment, investigators reportedly found extensive material on the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
A 15-year-old was also arrested, but his role in their sinister plans was not clarified.
Swift has not yet commented on the terrible situation. In 2019, the 14-time Grammy winner admitted that her “biggest fear” was a violent attack at one of her concerts.
We have since learned that the pop star’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, is “very concerned” about her safety.
Although Kelce contacted them “immediately” after learning the news, we were told he plans to stay in the U.S. due to his NFL commitments.
Swift is expected to end the European leg of her Eras tour in London next week.