Taylor Swift will take to the stage in London, resuming the world’s biggest concert tour amid heightened security measures after a thwarted terror attack, according to Reuters.
British police stated that the cancellation of her performance in Vienna amid the threat of a terrorist attack would have no impact on the singer’s five shows at Wembley Stadium, where 90,000 “Swifties” would cheer her on each night. However, security will be tightened.
Tay-gating, the practice of gathering outside a Taylor Swift show without a ticket, as thousands of people did in Munich earlier in the summer, will not be allowed as authorities try to reduce the number of hard-to-control vulnerabilities outside the venue.
Anyone hanging around outside the stadium will be moved on by security.
Swift, 34, has previously claimed her greatest fear is the risk to her fans after two attacks at music events in 2017 – the Las Vegas shooting and a suicide attack at Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, England. She stated that the attacks had made her “terrified” of touring and required additional planning and security measures.
In June, she performed in Britain to a sold-out audience that included Crown Prince William and his two children, as well as Keir Starmer, who has since been elected Prime Minister.
Her return may prove emotional after recent events. On 29 July, three young children were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northern England. However, Chris Phillips, former head of Britain’s National Counter Terrorism Security Office and now a security consultant to major events, said Wembley benefited from being a permanent venue.
They employ a lot of security teams. Wembley is as safe as you’re going to get.
Tim Gallagher, chief security officer with global investigations firm Nardello & Co, agreed that it was “extremely troubling” that the suspect from Vienna had been employed by a company working at the venue. He also stated that staff at Wembley would likely be re-vetted.
