Taylor Swift at Wembley security: After Vienna plot, what measures are in place?
The planned Taylor Swift performances in Austria have been called off due to concerns of a potential terrorist threat.
Swift was supposed to perform at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but the organizers decided to cancel the shows on Wednesday. This decision was made following the arrest of two men who were allegedly involved in a terrorist plot targeting the events.
The show cancellations have been announced just as fans are getting ready for the pop star's performances at Wembley Stadium. The concerts were scheduled to take place over five nights, beginning on Thursday 15 August.
In this blog post, we will explore the details of the suspected plan in Vienna, the official statements made by authorities in the UK regarding the impact on London events, and the measures that will be implemented for security at Wembley.
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What danger occurred in Austria?
Two individuals, aged 19 and 17, were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in a potential terrorist plan to target large events in Vienna, such as the upcoming Swift concerts, according to law enforcement officials.
The people in question had been closely monitored for a while and were familiar to Austrian authorities, according to the officials.
Authorities stated that the 19-year-old had taken steps to prepare for the plot, and that chemicals and "technical devices" were discovered in his residence during a search.
They claimed that the individual had uploaded a promise of loyalty to the current Islamic State leader on an online profile several weeks before.
The teenager, who is said to have ancestry from North Macedonia, is believed to be the prime suspect. According to Frankz Ruf, the general director of public security, the 19-year-old collaborated closely with the 17-year-old Austrian. This information was shared during an interview with the broadcaster ORF.
According to Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of Austria's Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, he intended to "harm himself and many people at the concert."
The teenager had just begun working at the concert arena a few days before the Taylor Swift concerts were canceled.
An intelligence official mentioned to Reuters that a 15-year-old from Austria has been interrogated as a possible suspect. It is uncertain if the individual is currently under arrest.
Officials have stated that they are not looking for any additional suspects.
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The information provided by the Metropolitan Police regarding safety measures for the concerts at Wembley.
Swift has already performed at Wembley for three nights in June. Due to her immense popularity, she has five additional concerts scheduled at the stadium on August 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th, and 20th.
When inquired about the Vienna terror plot and its potential effect on the Wembley concerts, a Metropolitan Police representative informed Sky News: "London holds many big events every year, attracting millions of visitors who have a safe and pleasant time."
The Met collaborates with venue security personnel and other partners to guarantee the presence of adequate security and policing measures.
The Austrian authorities' investigation is unlikely to affect the upcoming events in London.
As usual, we will keep an eye on any new information and review it carefully.
Sky News wanted to know if the security plans at Wembley Stadium had been altered because of the cancellations in Vienna, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
"We have a lot of experience in managing these events. We always stay vigilant," stated Mr. Khan.
A lot of knowledge was gained following the terrible incident at the Manchester Arena.
The mayor explained that the police collaborate closely with City Hall, councils, and concert organizers.
"I believe Vienna had valid grounds for canceling the Taylor Swift concerts," he added. "We will continue to collaborate with law enforcement to ensure the London concerts can proceed smoothly and securely."
The minister in charge of policing, Diana Johnson, stated that Scotland Yard will carefully examine all available information before the concerts in London.
"It's obvious that the police will examine all the information and make decisions - they evaluate every event that occurs in this country, and that responsibility falls on the police," she stated during an interview with LBC Radio regarding Swift's concerts.
I also want to mention that our manifesto for the upcoming general election includes a promise to implement Martyn's law. This law aims to ensure that venues at risk of terrorist attacks have the necessary safety measures in place to protect people. The government will be introducing this law soon, Ms Johnson confirmed.
What methods will the police use to handle security at the London Swift concerts?
Nick Aldworth, a former counter-terrorism national coordinator, shared some information with Sky News about how the UK authorities will be keeping an eye on the Vienna situation.
On a countrywide level, the counter-terrorism police will be working to gather information from their Austrian counterparts in order to comprehend the exact details of the threat," he explained.
What were the motivations behind it, was it a planned attack or a spur-of-the-moment attack? Ultimately, they will be looking to determine if there is any remaining or international threat that exceeds their current assessment of risk for these concerts, as well as the entertainment industry as a whole.
He stated that the venue's operators would probably choose to cancel or reschedule the concert themselves, instead of involving the police. This action might be viewed as excessive, as long as they can ensure that the events have adequate security to prevent terrorism.
Sky News has contacted Wembley Stadium for a statement.
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In the blog post, Mr. Aldworth mentioned that if he were in charge of the concert, he would evaluate his team's ability to identify potential terrorist threats based on the information available.
"If the response to that query is negative, then I must determine the reasons and identify the obstacles preventing me from ensuring the safety of others," he stated.
He mentioned that they must consider the danger not only during the music event but also before and after it, both inside the venue and surrounding areas.
The security staff at Wembley Stadium must be prepared to handle possible terrorist threats, according to him. Licensed security officers need to finish online counter-terrorism awareness training every three years.
"He described the similarities between Wembley and Manchester Arena, particularly in terms of how the environment is organized and the shared responsibilities of various organizations that must collaborate to ensure the safety of individuals," he said.
He mentioned that all parties need to have a clear and focused understanding of how to cooperate with each other after the Manchester bombing investigation was completed last year.
Mr. Aldworth shared that he experienced a similar situation to what current counter-terrorism leaders are facing in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. At that time, he was leading the counter-terrorism protective security efforts in London.
He remembered how there were some important concerts planned at The O2 in Greenwich just days before the bombing occurred.
I collaborated with the leadership at O2 to provide them with important information that could help them make decisions about how to run their operations. Additionally, I offered resources to help ensure that the areas surrounding the concert venue remained secure.
He mentioned the O2 Arena reviewed its security measures and was very confident in its ability to identify and stop any terrorist activities on its grounds. As a result, they decided to proceed with the events.
How to stay safe at concerts and festivals: Tips from counterterrorism experts
Counter Terrorism Policing offers advice to the public on how to stay safe at concerts.
Here is a brief overview of their recommendations:
They emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant, but not overly anxious, and mention that the likelihood of being involved in a terrorist attack is low.
However, if such a situation occurs, they suggest keeping in mind these important actions: "Escape, conceal, inform."
What kind of safety precautions does Wembley Stadium have?
Celebrities such as Swift choose to perform at Wembley Stadium for a reason - it has the largest seating capacity in the United Kingdom, holding up to 90,000 people.
The security team at Wembley Stadium enforces a strict policy regarding bags, allowing each individual to bring only one small bag that is no larger than an A4 size.
Every bag is checked at the perimeter of the stadium, and this may involve using a metal detector or physical search.
Security personnel are authorized to conduct searches on individuals and their personal items, whether they are located outside or inside the stadium. They have the authority to deny entry or remove individuals who refuse to comply with a search.
There is a long list of items that are not allowed, such as:
Additional safety precautions include standard procedures that are common at all event locations, including a zero-tolerance policy for violence or abuse, vandalism of equipment, throwing items, and blocking pathways.
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Would people be informed if the concerts in London by Swift were cancelled?
It is possible that events at Wembley Stadium may be canceled or rescheduled without advance notice to those holding tickets.
