Taylor Swift posted on ‘Security Lockdown’ ahead of London shows
August 12, 2024, published at 9:50 am ET
Traumatized Taylor Swift has had a steel ring put on her as part of a dramatic ‘safety lockdown’ ahead of her shows in London this week.
RadarOnline.com can also reveal that the terrified superstar’s team are said to be in talks with private counter-terrorism forces to keep her thousands of young fans safe during the blockbuster performances at Wembley Stadium, which start on Thursday.
A source said security is being arranged at “presidential level” after the 34-year-old – who has not been seen or heard from for days – was left petrified last week after a Terror plot by ISIS to focus on her concerts in Vienna was thwarted.
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The insider added to The Sun in response to Swift canceling three shows in the Austrian capital in the wake of the horrors: “Taylor’s safety and that of those around her has always been paramount, but now even more so.
“She and her dancers were told to ‘go to the ground for their own safety’ in light of the Vienna threat.
“Therefore, nothing has been said about the canceled shows beyond the promoter’s statement.”
Law enforcement sources added the five Swift sold out Eras tour shows at Wembley from August 15 to 20 will be guarded by extra private security “specialized in counter-terrorism”.
There are also fears that Swift could become involved in the recent far-right riots to rock London – which arose after disinformation spread about the rioters’ name, religion and migration status. knifeman who left three children dead after going on a stabbing at one Taylor Swift themed children’s dance event in the British town of Southport.
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The source added to TMZ: “Wembley has high-level security measures overall, especially compared to similar venues, and is one of the safest in Europe from a counter-terrorism perspective – but there are still concerns.
“The big issue for Taylor’s upcoming Wembley shows will be protecting the crowds of Swifties who always gather outside her concert halls.
“There have been huge crowds outside her other European concert venues, such as the one in Munich, and her rabidly loyal fans are gathering outside the venues even if they don’t have tickets – and they will need protection too.”
Ben Knott, operations director at FGH Security in England, said private security companies are working with police outside events where fans gather.
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He added that counter-terrorism security forces tend to deploy plainclothes and uniformed personnel – whose job is to track down suspicious or potentially dangerous individuals.
Spotters will be on the hunt for people in the crowd at Wembley scanning the area for cameras and police – and will be ready to attack anyone they deem a threat.
Ticketless fans have also been asked not to gather outside to listen to Swift’s Wembley performances.
The multi-Grammy winner was scheduled to perform in front of an estimated 170,000 fans at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium from August 8 to 10, but was forced to cancel after the gruesome plan of attack was exposed.
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Since then, radicalized teenagers between the ages of 17 and 19 have emerged – including an ISIS fanatic – was planning to unleash a massacre with a bomb, knives and vehicle attack on hordes of young fans.
The lawyer of the 19 year old arrested about the Austrian plot claimed that the teenager was a fantasist determined to appear ‘cool’.
She added: “He says the bomb was not of sufficient quality – it would not have worked.”
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But the lawyer admitted that he had done online research on how to build a device.
London’s Metropolitan Police said ahead of the Swift shows at Wembley: “There is no indication that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London.”
Safety at performances by American stars has been under scrutiny since its release suicide attack bee Ariana Grande‘s Manchester Arena concert in 2017 – which killed 22 people and injured 139, most of whom were children and teenagers.
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Wembley is tightening the general safety measures for the concerts, according to a catering employee at the concert venue.
It’s thought additional measures at Swift’s upcoming show could include airport-style walk-through metal detectors.
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Police Secretary Diana Johnson said Scotland Yard is assessing intelligence ahead of Swift’s Wembley concerts.
She told LBC Radio: “It is clear that the police will look at all intelligence and make decisions, they are risking every event that happens in this country and that is a matter for the police.”
Experts have warned that terror threats at performances are a “wake-up call”.
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Chris Phillips, former head of the UK’s National Counter-Terrorism Security Office, said: “You have to carry on with business as usual and make sure nothing happens. Terrorists should not win. But we have to be alert.”
Swift has announced that her five London shows will each feature a marquee guest, including indie singer Sofia Isella, Maisie Peters, Holly Humberstone and Suki Waterhuis.
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