Taylor Swift will take the stage again in London on Thursday as her Eras world tour resumes amid heightened security after foiling an Islamic State-inspired attack forced the cancellation of her concerts in Vienna last week.
Singer Taylor Swift PHOTO: Archive
British police said there was no indication the events in Vienna would have an impact on the five concerts at Wembley Stadium, where 90,000 Swifties are expected each night. However, security measures will be increased, writes Agerpres.
“Tay-gating”the custom of ticketless fans who gather outside arenas where Taylor Swift performs, as thousands did in Munich at the end of July, will not be allowed as authorities try to reduce the hard-to-control vulnerabilities outside the arena.
Fans will only be able to enter Wembley after passing through metal detectors and will only be allowed to bring one small bag with them. Glass and metal containers, laptops and umbrellas are prohibited.
“Anyone lingering in front of the stadium will be asked by the police to move away.”it is stated on the stadium’s website.
Taylor Swift, 34, previously said her biggest fear was the risk to her fans after two attacks at music events in 2017 – a gun attack in Las Vegas and a suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, and which led the British authorities to rethink the security measures applied to big shows.
The singer said that, following the attacks, she was “terrified” to go on tour and implemented extra planning and safety measures.
“We must live bravely if we want to feel that we are living, and that means we must not let ourselves be overwhelmed by our greatest fears.”she said in 2019.
Performer of the hit Cruel Summer she will return loaded with the optimism, sincere lyrics, friendship bracelets and sequined outfits that turned her into a global megastar.
The artist performed several concerts in Great Britain in June in front of a large audience that included the heir to the throne, Prince William, and two of his children, as well as Keir Starmer, who in the meantime became Prime Minister. The London Borough has also published a special tube map with Taylor Swift song titles.
tournament Eras could gross more than $1 billion, the first tour in history to surpass that threshold, after 149 shows over a two-year span. The final shows will take place in Canada in December.
Returning to the UK
Swift’s return to the UK could be an emotional moment after recent events.
On July 29, three children were killed at a Taylor Swift-inspired dance class in Southport, northern England. The artist wrote on Instagram, where she has 284 million followers, that she is “completely shocked” because of “loss of lives and innocence”.
The artist has not published any message regarding the cancellation of the shows in Vienna.
Security experts said British authorities had learned their lesson from the Manchester attack, which killed 22 people, including children, and police, stadium security teams and organizers were working together to protect the concert venue.
Chris Phillips, former director of the National Counter-Terrorism Office and now a security consultant at major events, said Wembley has the advantage of being an arena where events are always taking place.
“A lot of security teams are deployed”he told Reuters. ‘“There is nothing safer than Wembley.”
Experts say staff are expected to be re-vetted after one of the suspects in Vienna secured a job providing services at the city’s stadium.
Noah Price, director of security group G4S, said there will be ”increased levels of arena protection’‘, and the staff will be carefully monitored.
“The threat from the inside is actually the most widespread (…) because it has unhindered access”he said.
“We have to pay attention to unusual behavior”, he added. ”People who come earlier or leave later. Checking access logs”.
Tim Gallagher, head of security at global investigative firm Nardello & Co, said it is “extremely worrying”‘ that a suspect in Vienna was employed by a company working on the stadium and said Wembley staff would likely be re-vetted.
Don Erickson, chief executive of the Security Industry Association, said visible measures such as scanners would be complemented by intelligence gathering and video surveillance.
“There needs to be a balance between safety and security and the fan experience”he said. ”They are not mutually exclusive, both can be achieved”.
Wembley issued the security briefing using the title of a Taylor Swift song: ‘‘Read all the information provided and keep in mind what you can and cannot do. Don’t Shake It Off as unimportant”.
