Thousands of Taylor Swift fans have flocked to Wembley Stadium in London for her first performance since her Vienna concerts were canceled due to a thwarted terror plot.
Despite heightened security, attendees arrived in high spirits, sporting sequins, cowboy hats, and friendship bracelets. Angelina Morris, 20, shared that her mother spent over 50 hours hand-sewing her outfit. Morris expressed concern for the Vienna fans but felt reassured by the increased security at Wembley. “I feel really bad for the Vienna Swifties; it was beyond their control,” Morris said. “But with the extra security at Wembley, it feels safer than ever.”
Other fans echoed this confidence. Brodie MacArthur, 23, remarked, “There’s so much security, and everyone seems very nice.”
Wembley has implemented stricter security measures for the five-night concert series, including a ban on “Tay-gating,” where ticketless fans gather outside venues.
Anna Weston, 25, and Cerys Weston, 27, from Cardiff, had planned to Tay-gate but were disappointed by the ban. However, they understood it was necessary for public safety.
“People are very good at listening to advice. It’s to keep us safe and everyone else,” Cerys said.
Yasmin Osten, 25, and Jaime Haycox, 28, who have also attended shows in cities like Atlanta, Nashville, Amsterdam, and Edinburgh, trusted Wembley’s security measures.
Haycox said, “We all trust Taylor to keep us safe. There’s anxiety, but if there was any real risk, we wouldn’t be here.”
While most fans followed the rules, some ticketless Swifties held signs hoping to gain entry. Police have not intervened with these fans.
The concert marks Swift’s return to the UK following the tragic death of three children in a knife attack at a Southport dance workshop themed around her music.
Swift’s Vienna concerts were canceled last week after Austrian authorities arrested three teenagers linked to a suspected attack plot. The suspects, allegedly influenced by Islamic State and al-Qaida, reportedly planned an attack outside the Vienna venue, expecting up to 35,000 ticketless attendees.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated there is no indication of any threat to the Wembley concerts. They assured the public that they would continue working closely with the venue’s security and monitor any new information.
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