Irish Swifties who travelled to Vienna for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour have opened up after the shows in the city were cancelled due to a terror threat.

Taylor was set to play three gigs in Vienna’s Ernst-Happel Stadion to over 65,000 people nightly inside the stadium, and a further 22,000 outside, starting on Thursday (August 8). However, the three shows were cancelled after two men were arrested who were allegedly planning a terrorist attack at the stadium.

The tour, which saw three sell-out gigs in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in June, had sold out almost instantly.

Thousands of people travelled internationally to catch a glimpse of the singer, with one person who was travelling from Ireland saying that they were meant to travel to Vienna on Friday for Taylor’s show on Saturday. However, they are "distraught" that they won’t be seeing her due to the cancellations.

"I’m from Ireland but couldn’t get a ticket for Dublin and managed to get one for Vienna N3," the fan wrote on Twitter (X). "I’m still flying over tomorrow but absolutely distraught I won’t be seeing Taylor. Been waiting all year for this concert and beyond devastated I won’t get to the Eras Tour."

I’m from Ireland but couldn’t get a ticket for Dublin and managed to get one for Vienna N3. I’m still flying over tomorrow but absolutely distraught I won’t be seeing Taylor. Been waiting all year for this concert and beyond devastated I won’t get to the Eras Tour ?

— maanum12?? (@stephyandbeffy) August 7, 2024

Another said that they were bringing their friend to Vienna from Ireland as a wedding present, but has been left scrambling for a ticket to one of her Wembley gigs, writing "I took my friend to Vienna from Ireland as a wedding gift to her. If anyone has any Wembley tickets for sale, please let me know."

Vanessa Szombathelyi, 24, had also travelled from Ireland to Vienna via Hungary for the show, and said that she’s been feeling "a mix of emotions" since the gig was cancelled but for good reason.

"[I’m] feeling mixed emotions, everything from tears to being angry," Ms. Szombathelyi told CNN, adding that she’s "mad and grateful that the two people were caught."

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On Wednesday night (August 7), General Director for Public Security in Austria, Franz Ruf confirmed two men who had been "radicalized by the internet" had been arrested.

"According to the current status of the investigation, the two suspects became radicalised via the internet," Mr. Ruf said.

A 19-year-old Austrian citizen was arrested in Ternitz in the province of Lower Austria while a second arrest was made in Vienna.

It is understood the 19-year-old had made "an oath of allegiance" to the Islamic State at the start of last month. Police carried out a large operation where they searched the 19-year-old’s house, and evacuated a number of houses nearby. Chemical substances were found and are currently under examination.

Mr. Ruf confirmed that all measures were being taken to ensure public safety around Vienna, including the Taylor Swift gigs.

Event organisers, Barracuda Music have since issued a statement confirming the cancellation of the Vienna gigs following ‘government officials confirmation of planned terrorist attacks.’

Sharing a statement on Instagram, the organiser said they "had no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety."

They confirmed that all tickets would be automatically refunded within ten business days.

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.

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