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On Wednesday, Taylor Swift took to social media to address the disrupted terror plot that necessitated the cancellation of three Eras Tour performances in Vienna, Austria, earlier this month.
“The cause of the cancellations struck me with an unfamiliar dread and an overwhelming wave of remorse, knowing that countless fans had meticulously arranged to attend those shows. Yet, my heart swelled with gratitude toward the authorities, for their vigilance spared us from mourning lives instead of concerts,” Swift conveyed.
“I was deeply moved by the outpouring of love and solidarity I witnessed among the fans who united in the face of adversity. It became clear that every ounce of my energy needed to be channeled into safeguarding the nearly half a million individuals set to attend the London shows,” she elaborated. “My team and I collaborated closely with stadium personnel and British authorities daily, driven by that objective, and I extend my deepest thanks to them for their unwavering dedication.”
Taylor Swift recently concluded a series of performances at London’s Wembley Stadium, marking the end of the European segment of her tour. On August 7, Austrian authorities disclosed that they had thwarted a terror plot aimed at one or more of the Vienna concert dates. Wednesday marked Swift’s first public response to this alarming incident.
Addressing the timing of her statement, Swift remarked, “I refuse to address matters publicly if I believe doing so could incite those who harbor ill intentions toward the fans attending my shows. In situations like this, ‘silence’ is a form of measured restraint, waiting for the right moment to voice your thoughts. My foremost concern was the safe completion of our European tour, and I’m immensely relieved to say we achieved that.”
Three adolescents are currently detained in connection with the investigation, suspected of orchestrating a suicide attack. Authorities discovered an arsenal of chemicals, explosive materials, detonators, and counterfeit currency totaling €21,000 (approximately $22,944) at the residence of the principal suspect, a 19-year-old ISIS sympathizer who had undergone radicalization online.
The young man, apprehended last week in the eastern Austrian town of Ternitz, intended to cause mass casualties in a suicide attack, according to Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of the domestic intelligence agency.
Swift is slated to resume her tour in Miami come October.
