Security expert reveals chilling reason Taylor Swift concert didn't go ahead despite terrorists' arrests

Following the news that the two alleged extremists who'd plotted a devastating terror attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna this week have been arrested, thousands of the singer's fans were left wondering why the gigs would not be going ahead as planned.

In an blindsiding revelation, however, a national security expert has lifted the lid on a chilling reason why concert organisers had no choice but skip the Austrian leg of the 34-year-old's Eras tour, despite the suspects having been apprehended.

According to reports released by Austria's director of public security, two detainees were apprehended and arrested under suspicion of planning attacks at large events in the country's capital, including one of Swift's three high-profile concerts in Vienna.

Taylor Swift was scheduled to perform three dates in Austria this week. (Thomas Niedermueller/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

Franz Ruf,told public broadcaster ORF’s Oe1 programme yesterday (7 August) that investigators had found chemical substances and technical devices at the suspects' house, and that both men - who are allegedly associated with the Islamic State terror group - are now being evaluated.

Following the shock announcement of the subsequent cancellation of the concerts, fans of the 'Cruel Summer' singer called into question what had prevented the concerts from going ahead, being that the perpetrators had been apprehended.

According to Will Geddes - one of the world's leading specialists in counterterrorism, kidnapping, direct action groups, personal security, and close protection services - it was vital for the events company to make that call.

Speaking exclusively to Tyla today, he suspected one of the 'most likely' reasons that Swift's team turned down the event surrounded another possible assailant.

Fans in Vienna were heartbroken by news of the cancellation. (ALEX HALADA/AFP via Getty Images)

"It could be due to police intelligence that there’s another plotter who hasn’t yet been captured by authorities," Will explained. "Could there be any stranglers still associated with the plan that are able to carry it out?"

He went on to add that Ernst Happel Stadium's level of in-house security would have also had a part to play in the potentially life-saving decision.

"Going back to the case of the Ariana Grande concert, it was actually a member of the venue’s security that spotted the terrorist, but was cautious of being accused of racial profiling," he explained.

"The organisers have to be reliant and feel confident on the venue’s own security for support. Taylor’s personal security can only do so much."

Letting us in on what he understands about this foiled plot so far, he went on to tell us that the attack was thankfully prevented in its 'most advanced' stages.

Will boasts an impressive career in security and counterterrorism. (TalkTV Crime Suspect)

"This phase sees terrorists selecting the target, recognisance the target – see how feasible it is to carry out the attack – and plan how they’ll complete it, before another period of recognisance," Will continued.

"More often than not, these plots are weeks and months in the making. A lot of Islamic State sympathisers will follow a methodology to preparing and planning an attack, and this will involve looking at a selection of different targets, before selecting the ‘easiest’ one.

"Austria could be deemed a slightly easier prospect than the likes of the UK and Germany."

And asked how the criminals were likely discovered by counterterrorism police, he added: "It's not entirely clear at this stage quite yet, but it’s very likely they were picked up online.

"The venue itself was probably then reviewed in terms of CCTV to assess any signs of hostile recognisance before the terrorists planned to go ahead.

Investigating authorities were thankfully able to prevent the plot from being enacted. (gorodenkoff/Getty)

"National security would have joined up all the dots and gathered sufficient evidence to prosecute these individuals for plotting a terror attack."

Swift's events organiser Barracuda Music confirmed news of the concerts' cancellation in a statement on Instagram yesterday, writing: "Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone's safety."

They continued: "All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 working days."