Taylor Swift's London dates not impacted by Vienna events, UK police say
Vienna concerts cancelled after police foil attack
British police see no impact on planned London concerts
Dismayed Vienna fans frantically seek London tickets
Security in UK already stepped up due to racist riots
Adds comment from Wembley ticket holder in paragraphs 11-14
By Paul Sandle and Millie McCaughan
LONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters) -British police said there was nothing to indicate that a planned attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna would have any impact on her return next week to Wembley Stadium, London, for her five final shows in Europe.
Swift's three concerts in Vienna, expected to draw 195,000 people, were cancelled this week after police there said they had foiled an attack by a 19-year-old Austrian who was intent on attacking fans with a bomb or knife.
Her record-breaking Eras tour came to Britain in June, with shows in Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cardiff, before she visited London for three nights, with the now-prime minister, Keir Starmer, and members of the royal family in the crowd.
She will return to Wembley on August 15 for five nights before heading back to North America for her final dates of Eras, which has become the highest grossing concert tour of all time, according to reports.
"There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London," a spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police said.
Austrian police detained two people on Wednesday on suspicion of plotting attacks on concerts. They said one, a 19 year-old suspect, had a particular focus on the Swift concerts in Vienna.
London's Met Police said millions of visitors had a safe and enjoyable experience at high-profile events in London every year, with Bruce Springsteen playing at Wembley in July.
"The Met works closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure there are appropriate security and policing plans in place," the spokesperson said.
"As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review."
The foiled plot was a reminder however ofpast attacks at concerts and stadiums, including the bombing of Manchester Arena in May 2017, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had performed.
FANS' DISMAY
Katie Su, president of the University of the Arts London Taylor Swift society, has attended previous dates on the tour, including in London, and has tickets for next week
"I'm a bit scared but I'm still going to go," she said.
"Compared to when I was in another city for the Eras tour, the Wembley security is more strict."
Otherfans turned to social media to express their dismay over the Vienna cancellations, their fears that the London nights could also be cancelled, and to ask for tickets.
"If anyone is selling 2 tickets for Taylor Swift for ANY night in London Wembley pls pls message me, from a very desperate and devastated girl in Vienna x x," a user called Haz said on X.
Tickets to see Swift sold out rapidly as fans battled to see the most high-profile tour in years. A general admission standing ticket for Wembley cost 110.40 pounds ($140).
The same tickets were available on resale websites such as Viagogo and StubHub for more than 1,200 pounds each on Thursday.
Police in Britain are already on high alert after racist riots broke out, targeting immigrants and Muslim communities following the murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England, on July 29.
"These were just little kids at a dance class," Swift said the day after that attack.
Policing in Britain has been stepped up since the violence erupted and large anti-racist counter-demonstrations thwarted further violence on Wednesday.
($1 = 0.7888 pounds)
Reporting by Paul Sandle, Michael Holden and Sachin Ravikumar, Writing by Paul Sandle
Editing by Alistair Smout and Gareth Jones
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.