Taylor Swift cancels three Vienna concerts over terrorist attack threat

Three Taylor Swift concerts due to take place in Vienna this week have been cancelled after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to attack an event in the area.

As part of her huge successful Eras Tour, Swift was scheduled to play at the Austrian capital’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Barracuda Music, the organiser of the event, said in a post on Instagram late on Wednesday: “We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”

It quoted government officials' “confirmation” of a planned attack at the stadium.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area.

The main suspect, 19, was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.

Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s Interior Ministry, said authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack, “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna", the Austria Press Agency reported.

Mr Ruf said that chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated. He did not give more details.

Taylor Swift's Eras tour - in pictures

The cancellation came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be increased.

“All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days,” Barracuda Music said.

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

Taylor Swift cancels three Vienna concerts over terrorist attack threat

Police in Austria arrested a 19-year-old main suspect who had pledged an oath of allegiance to ISIS

Taylor Swift's Eras tour - in pictures

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion