Taylor Swift says scrapping Vienna shows over terror plot filled her with 'fear'

LONDON - Taylor Swift has said an alleged terror plot which led to the cancellation of three Eras Tour shows in Vienna "filled me with a new sense of fear".

The pop superstar had been scheduled to play at the Austrian capital's Ernst Happel Stadium in early August, but the sold-out shows were cancelled after police reportedly uncovered a plot by terrorists, reported PA Media.

"Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating," 34-year-old Swift said in a post on Instagram.

"The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.

"But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives."

Swift said she was "heartened by the love and unity" she saw from fans who "banded together" after the news broke.

"I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London.

"My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us.

"Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows.

"In cases like this one, 'silence' is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it's right to.

"My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that."

The cancelled Vienna dates formed part of the European leg of her Eras Tour, which concluded on Tuesday in London.

Swift made history as the first solo artiste to perform at Wembley Stadium eight times in a single tour, a record previously held by Michael Jackson for his Bad Tour in 1988. - BERNAMA-PA Media/dpa