Three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna have been cancelled following arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack in the area, potentially at the stadium, and at least one of the suspects has been linked to the Islamic State group.

Just a few weeks ago, the 19-year-old had uploaded an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group militia to an internet account, Ruf said.

A second person was arrested in the Austrian capital.

Several Austrian media reported that additional suspects were being sought, which police did not officially confirm.

The cancellations devastated Swifties across the globe, many of whom had dropped thousands of euros on travel and lodging in Austria’s expensive capital city for the sold-out Eras Tour shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Ernst Happel Stadium.

Europe is enamoured of the American superstar, with the German town of Gelsenkirchen renaming itself “Swiftkirchen” before its mid-July concerts.

Ruf said authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna”, the Austria Press Agency reported.

The Austrian citizen is believed to have become radicalised on the internet.

Event organiser Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post on Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety”.

The cancellation came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be stepped up.

stadium itself, and at least one of the suspects has been linked to the Islamic State group.

Chemical substances and technical devices were found at the house of that suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian, according to Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry.

In an interview on Thursday with public broadcaster ORF’s Oe1 program, Ruf said investigators were evaluating the evidence seized from the suspect’s home.

Ruf previously said there would be a special focus among other things on entry checks, and concertgoers should plan a bit more time.

Vienna Police Chief Gerhard Pürstl said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had been minimised, an abstract risk justified raising security.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer posted on X that “the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organisers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria”.

“The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious,” he wrote.

But, thanks to intensive co-operation between police and Austrian and foreign intelligence, “the threat could be recognised early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented”.

Barracuda Music said “all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days”.

The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria.

Some who posted on social media lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.

-AP