UK: Taylor Swift Kicks Off Wembley Concerts Amid Heightened Security Following Thwarted Attack in Vienna

Taylor Swift has resumed her Eras Tour at London’s Wembley Stadium on Thursday, just over a week after her Vienna concerts were canceled due to a thwarted terror plot. The planned Vienna shows were called off after Austrian police uncovered a plot involving three teenagers who were allegedly planning a suicide attack.

The main suspect, a 19-year-old ISIS sympathizer, was found with a significant arsenal of explosives, chemicals, and counterfeit money. The discovery prompted swift action from authorities, leading to the detention of the suspects.

Swift’s last performance was in Warsaw, Poland, earlier in August. Although she has not publicly addressed the Vienna incident, her team has been contacted for comments.

The Wembley Stadium concerts mark the final European stop on Swift’s tour before returning to North America. For this leg of the tour, Paramore will serve as the opening act, with a different supporting artist each night, including Sofia Isella, Holly Humberstone, Suki Waterhouse, Maisie Peters, and Raye.

Following the Vienna cancellations, Wembley Stadium and London authorities have implemented heightened security measures. London Mayor Sadiq Khan assured that the city’s extensive experience in managing large-scale events will ensure the safety of the concerts. He highlighted lessons learned from the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, which will inform their security approach.

The London Metropolitan Police emphasized that there is no indication of any threat affecting the London events and will continue to monitor the situation closely. Wembley Stadium has also committed to working with police and safety groups to maintain high security standards, including a policy barring non-ticket holders from loitering outside the venue.