Taylor Swift surprises Austrian fans after Vienna concerts canceled
Taylor Swift and Disney+ have delighted Austrian fans with a surprise TV premiere of the globe-trotting Eras Tour concert movie. This comes after Swift's planned Vienna concerts were canceled due to a thwarted terror plot. The pop star collaborated with Disney and cable station ORF to broadcast the film, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version), as a free TV premiere in Austria on Saturday night.
Arrests led to swift concert cancellations in Vienna
The cancellations were a result of local authorities in Vienna arresting two men on Wednesday (August 7), who were planning an attack on Swift's concerts at the Ernst Happel Stadium scheduled for August 8, 9, and 10. A third suspect was arrested the following day. The concert promoter announced via Instagram that they had "no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety."
Details of the planned attack on Swift's concert revealed
Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of Austria's Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, disclosed at a news conference that one of the detained suspects confessed to planning "to carry out an attack" at the concert using explosives and knives. The suspect intended "to kill himself and a large number of people during the concert either today or tomorrow." While immediate danger has been "minimized," Vienna Police Chief Gerhard Purstl noted that there is still an "abstract danger" in the city, per BBC.
Vienna offered alternatives for disappointed Swift concertgoers
In response to the cancellations, the Vienna Tourist Board provided alternatives for those who planned to attend the shows. Some museums around town opened their doors free of charge, and the Swarovski Kristallwelten store offered a crystal surprise upon presenting a valid concert ticket. This move, along with the planned surprise by Swift, aimed at mitigating disappointment among fans who had anticipated Swift's performances.
