VIENNA, Austria — Two teenagers are under arrest in Austria for plotting to attack major events in Vienna. One suspect confessed to planning to kill people outside of a venue where Taylor Swift was set to perform.
All three of Swift’s shows were cancelled in Vienna. Taylor Swift’s website indicates anyone with tickets to those concerts should be refunded within 10 business days.
Lindsay Paul and her daughter, Lena, arrived in Vienna on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s concert.
“We decided to do it, make a big a trip out of it, a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Lindsay Paul said. “We did go to the Eras Tour in Denver last summer. We sat way up at the very, very top in the nosebleeds, and I had been dreaming of going back ever since.”
Friendship bracelet exchanges in Vienna upon learning about Taylor Swift concert cancelations
They got the news the shows were canceled just a few hours after getting to Vienna.
“Really sad, I was crying a bit,” Lena Paul said.
“We were really like ‘what’?” Lindsay Paul said. “I was trying not to say anything in front of Lena because it sounded really violent and scary. We didn’t know at first.”
It's a tough conversation to have with Swift’s young fans.
“I tried to be very careful with the language and the way that I explained it because I wanted convey that this was really serious,” Lindsay Paul said. “And not like Taylor Swift was canceling her concert for no reason. We talked about that there were, you know, some bad guys and there were some scary, you know scary things, and they were worried that something bad might happen at the concert.”
Fans found a way to make the most of the situation by filling the streets and breaking out in song. Many wore outfits they planned to wear for the concert as they exchanged friendship bracelets.
“Swifties were singing and dancing and that was fun,” Lena Paul said. “It felt really good and like it made me feel like happier. It didn't make me feel as sad.”
Loudly and proudly, Swifties joined forces, just doing what Swifties do best.
“I think we all decided like we are here,” Lindsay Paul said. “We kind of just understood that this was something that was a lot bigger than any of us, and was entirely designed to keep everyone safe.”