Taylor Swift Takes the London Stage Following Foiled Vienna Concert Plot

Taylor Swift will return to the stage in London on Thursday to conclude the European leg of her “Eras” tour. This performance comes just a week after her scheduled concerts in Vienna were cancelled due to a thwarted suicide attack plot.

Around 90,000 fans are expected to pack London’s Wembley Stadium for the first night of a five-day run. Additional ticket checks and restrictions will be implemented to ensure safety.

The Vienna shows were called off following the discovery of an Islamic State-inspired attack plot involving explosives and knives. The plot was disrupted with assistance from US intelligence, and three alleged Islamic State sympathisers have been arrested.

The Metropolitan Police in London has reassured that there is “nothing to indicate” that the security concerns in Vienna will affect the London events. Police are working closely with venue security teams to ensure appropriate security measures are in place.

Fans are advised to expect additional ticket checks around the stadium, according to Wembley’s website.

Swift’s return to London follows three sold-out shows in June and comes just two weeks after a tragic stabbing at a dance class themed around her music. The attack in northwest England resulted in the deaths of three young girls. Following the incident, Swift expressed her shock and offered her sympathies to the families affected.

Although Swift has not commented on the Vienna cancellations, London’s mayor Sadiq Khan stated that the city is working closely with police to ensure the concerts can proceed safely.

Khan emphasized the city’s experience in policing major events, noting that lessons were learned following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack that killed 22 people. Fans without tickets are also being cautioned against “tay-gating” — standing outside the venue to listen to the concert from afar.

Wembley’s website states that non-ticket holders will not be allowed to stand outside any entrances or at the front of the stadium. This rule was also in place during her June concerts, although some fans still gathered outside.

Following performances in Madrid in July, Swift noted that around 50,000 people listened to the show from a nearby hillside, participating from a distance.

Swift’s last London shows were attended by some high-profile names, including Keir Starmer, who was then a candidate for Prime Minister, and Prince William, who attended with his children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The singer shared a photo of her with the royals and her boyfriend, American football player Travis Kelce, celebrating Prince William’s birthday.

After concluding the European leg of her tour, which began in Paris in May and included performances across the continent, Swift will return to North America. The final leg of the tour will start on October 18 in Miami.