London will be awash in love once again when Taylor Swift takes the stage at Wembley Stadium later this August. However, authorities have not ignored the sinister aspects of a near-fatal terror plot foiled in Vienna, Austria, which led to the pop singer’s show being cancelled in advance for security reasons.
London authorities are further ramping up the bar with intense security measures deployed specifically to control potential threats. From August 15 to 20, Swift will resume the ongoing leg of her Eras Tour, which will also conclude her international schedule for the record-breaking, hugely hit World Tour before returning to North America. Meanwhile, TMZ reports that her upcoming three-night run of shows at the iconic Wembley stop will focus on beefing up anti-terrorism private security measures in the wake of the failed Vienna terror plot.
In addition to the local police being on vigil, private security forces have now reportedly been deployed at the concert venue.
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London steps up US security for Taylor Swift’s Wembley concert
While Wembley already has high-level security plans in place, the current conditions of rioting and chaos on the streets of London have added to potential fears and concerns. Worries will only increase with Taylor’s upcoming concert schedule, as the venue is expected to be jam-packed with fans gathered in one area, while crowds will gather outside the stadium.
Even when fans failed to get tickets to the pop star’s sold-out shows, they still found some way to attend the event, even if it had to be from a distance. Her shows in Munich in July are proof of the fan frenzy, when people in their fives gathered atop Olympic Hill to watch her concert for free in Germany.
After three suspects were arrested for planning a terrorist attack to kill as many people as possible at Taylor’s show in Vienna, authorities confirmed that the cancellation of the Austrian dates would not affect her London shows. London Metropolitan Police said, “There is nothing to suggest that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have any impact on her upcoming shows in London.”
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How does the partnership of private security forces with the police work in such cases?
Despite the outward calm, it is clear that the authorities are prepared to take any swift action if needed. Ben Knott, operations director of FGH Security in England, told the media outlet that the involvement of private security firms will be to spot any suspicious individuals in the crowd amid the emphasis on tight security.
Knott said they would be particularly wary of anyone scanning the venue for cameras and police, which would ultimately be a forewarning signal that security is stepping up. However, counterterrorism security forces usually follow their strategy of being friendly with suspicious individuals, asking them if they need help with something. As soon as officers sense a threat coming their way, police stop them.
