Will Taylor Swift’s London Eras Tour Happen?

TAylor Swift fans in London are preparing for her return to the city, as she is scheduled to play five shows at Wembley Stadium between August 15 and 20. But in light of the foiled terrorist attacks linked to her three concerts in Vienna, Austria – and the subsequent cancellation of those concerts – many fans are wondering whether the UK shows will go ahead.

Swift, named TIME magazine’s Person of the Year for 2023, has yet to comment on the planned attack or her upcoming London concerts, the continuation of her Eras tour, a series of concerts that became the highest-grossing tour of all time, grossing more than $1 billion.

On Sunday, Swift’s official website indicated that the London dates had yet to be set. Additionally, several London officials issued statements assuring the public that safety was a top priority and that they would keep any new information under “careful review.”

“There is no indication that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have any impact on upcoming events here in London,” a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police — the Greater London police force — told TIME in an emailed statement Sunday.

“The Met is working closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure appropriate security and policing plans are in place.”

On Thursday, British Policing Secretary Diana Johnson told British radio station LBC that police would be on high alert for the London shows.

“Obviously the police will look at all the information and make decisions, they will assess the risks of every event that happens in this country, and that is something that is a police matter,” Johnson said.

Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed that Swift’s concerts will take place in the English capital.

“We will continue to work closely with the police (and) ensure that Taylor Swift’s concerts can take place safely in London,” Khan told Sky News.

Wembley Stadium has yet to release an official statement regarding new security measures for Swift’s upcoming concerts, but on the Eras tour page, the site states that “no one is permitted to stand outside any entrance or on the Olympic steps at the front of the stadium.” That statement was in place when the pop star visited Wembley in June.

On August 7, organizers canceled Swift’s three sold-out concerts at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium after two people were arrested on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack in Vienna, authorities said. At a press conference in the Austrian capital on Friday, it was announced that a third suspect had been arrested in connection with the foiled plot.

Concert promoter Baracuda Music has informed fans that all tickets will be refunded. The same message was relayed on Swift’s official website under the Vienna dates.

Learn more: Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts cancelled after police say they discovered a plot for a terrorist attack

Austrian authorities said one of the suspects, a 19-year-old Austrian man, confessed to planning the attack. Associated Press reported on August 8.

“He wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the State Security and Intelligence Directorate.

The man, who lived with his parents in Ternitz, south of Vienna, is believed to have taken an “oath of allegiance” to IS, Vienna State Police Director Franz Ruf told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday.

The second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian, had recently started working at a company “providing services at concert venues.” Authorities also found equipment belonging to the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda at his home.

The third suspect is an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen who was found to be in contact with the main suspect, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told reporters at a news conference.

“He has been in contact with the main person responsible for the attack, but he is not directly connected to the attack plans,” Karner said at the press conference. “But, as was discovered a few days ago, he swore allegiance specifically to ISIS on August 6.”

In the wake of the concert cancellations, fans were left to cope with the loss of their chance to see the iconic pop star and hear their favorite songs. A large crowd of disappointed fans gathered at Corneliusgasse, whose name echoes “Cornelia Street,” the name of a beloved pop track from Swift’s 2019 album, Lover.

Fans exchanged friendship bracelets — a popular activity among Swift’s Eras tour audience — and sang along to songs.