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Swifties and their many friendship bracelets Alamy

Taylor Swift returns to stage for first time since foiled terror plot

The concert also comes two weeks after three girls were killed in a mass stabbing at a Swift themed dance class in northwest England.

LAST UPDATE | 15 Aug 2024

TAYLOR SWIFT KICKED off the first of five sell-out London shows tonight, taking to the stage a week after concerts in Vienna were cancelled due to a foiled suicide attack plot.

The American star’s return to Wembley Stadium, where she performed for three nights in June, marks the end of the European leg of her record-breaking “Eras” tour.

In addition to events in Vienna, the concert comes just over two weeks after three girls were killed in a mass stabbing at a dance class themed around her music in northwest England.

The 34-year-old appeared on the Wembley stage for her hit song “22″ wearing a T-shirt bearing the words “a lot going on at the moment” – a fashion statement interpreted as a reference to both incidents.

Three alleged Islamic State group sympathisers have been detained in Austria over a plan to launch an attack using explosives and knives on the Swift concerts.

London police said there was “nothing to indicate” any links between the Vienna events and Swift’s gigs in the UK capital in front of 90,000 fans.

But it was working “closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure there are appropriate security and policing plans in place”.

london-uk-15-august-2024-taylor-swift-fans-swifties-outside-wembley-stadium-ahead-of-taylor-swifts-eras-tour-august-concerts-taylor-swift-performed-for-three-nights-in-june-and-will-play-f A father-daughter duo outside the venue Alamy Alamy

‘Worries’

Extra security, including additional ticket checks, hundreds of stewards and extra restrictions, did not dampen the spirits of so-called “Swifties” out in force Thursday.

“It doesn’t feel real, that it’s actually happening!” Katie Moulson, 24, told AFP as she arrived at Wembley.

Fans were decked out in glittery skirts, tasselled jackets, cowboy hats and stacks of friendship bracelets as they descended on northwest London.

“After Vienna, it’s good to hear that they’ve upped the security,” student Brodie MacArthur, 23, told AFP, as she arrived wearing a long white dress inspired by Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department”.

“In the back of your head, there’s still worries. But there are a lot of people here to keep it safe,” she added.

Following the UK knife attack, Swift said she was “completely in shock” and at a “complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families” impacted.

The BBC reported Thursday that she has privately reached out to them.

Meanwhile her fans launched a fundraiser for the victims, which raised nearly £400,000 under the banner “Swifties for Southport”.

The tragedy “made you realise how much Swifties need each other”, MacArthur noted. “Because obviously there’s been such horrible events, that just brought us all together more.”

Swift has not yet commented on the plot on the Vienna shows.

“I think she’s just ready to come back and perform,” said Lauren Thies, 19, who has attended five previous Swift concerts with her mother, Denise.

“She loves performing for her fans,” the teenager added.

‘Anticipation’

The US star did not disappoint, bringing out Ed Sheeran as a surprise guest to the delight of the capacity crowd.

The pair performed several hits, including two Swift tracks they collaborated on and Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” as a surprise song.

Fans from around the world had travelled to Wembley, where Swift is performing more “Eras” tour shows than anywhere else.

“I was worried, because this is the first concert after that (Vienna). So I was afraid to look at my phone and see something,” said Denise, who flew in with Lauren from US state New Jersey.

“I was really nervous, I thought for sure she would consider cancelling her shows here,” said Juan Ramirez, 28, another American who took an 11-hour flight from California for the event.

“It’s been an agonising anticipation of the concert. But we’re finally here and I love it,” Ramirez added, dressed in a pink outfit, including a bandanna and heart-shaped sunglasses.

Ahead of the performance, fans sang Swift’s songs and exchanged bracelets with each other, a tradition among Swifties during the tour.

Moulson, from Suffolk in eastern England, and wearing DIY sparkly purple boots and a tinsel-lined jacket, doled out bracelets to some of the security guards.

Both Moulson and Denise have a bucket list of London spots mentioned in Swift’s songs they will visit after the concert, including the Black Dog pub in Vauxhall, south London, namechecked in her latest album.

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    Mute Buster Lawless
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    Aug 15th 2024, 11:12 PM

    Well done Taylor……after the nightmare of the last fortnight the sun will shine through.

    Thoughts & condolences to those three girls who so needlessly & tragically lost their lives to that animal in Suffolk.

    142
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    Mute The Firestarter
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    Aug 15th 2024, 11:43 PM

    @Buster Lawless: I presume you mean Southport, but yes well said.

    55
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    Mute Buster Lawless
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    Aug 15th 2024, 11:47 PM

    @The Firestarter: apologies, yes, this ‘voice’ recognition thingy in this phone isn’t great

    35
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    Mute Mike Courtney
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    Aug 16th 2024, 12:06 AM

    Thank God for that, I’ll sleep better tonight….Phew!

    39
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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Aug 16th 2024, 12:41 AM

    @Mike Courtney: Always keep a Bible by your bedside Mike. You’ll sleep even better.

    15
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    Mute Sean O'Callaghan
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    Aug 16th 2024, 1:09 AM

    @Paul Gorry: Xanax

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Aug 16th 2024, 1:30 AM

    @Sean O’Callaghan: 8 cans of Dutch gold sean. Sorted..

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    Mute reg morrisey
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    Aug 16th 2024, 8:45 AM

    Gangland killer recovering well after drugs overdose in prison.
    Does anyone and I mean anyone care?

    40
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    Mute Alex
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    Aug 16th 2024, 11:44 AM

    @reg morrisey: Couldn’t care less, they should not recover at all so no more taxes money spent on those useless people.

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    Mute Davy Smith
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    Aug 16th 2024, 8:15 AM

    Someone attending 5 concerts when many couldn’t get a ticket sums up the greed of some.

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    Mute John Sleator
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    Aug 15th 2024, 11:07 PM

    First I was afraid,I was terrified…..different era

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    Mute Sean O'Callaghan
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    Aug 16th 2024, 1:23 AM

    @John Sleator: Once?

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    Mute Regular John
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    Aug 16th 2024, 7:57 AM

    @John Sleator:
    petrified

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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Aug 16th 2024, 12:44 AM

    Swiftly moving on from tragedy should not be mentioned in this thread.

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Aug 16th 2024, 1:31 AM

    She shook it off then?

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    Mute Alex
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    Aug 16th 2024, 11:43 AM

    That’s why the religion of “peace” should not be tolerated in our democracy. No such thing as moderate Islam or extremism Islam, it’s Islam, period. And it needs to be dealt with before it’s too late. Take example on Poland, 0 religion of peace refugees, 0 terrorist strikes.

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    Mute Marcus Maher - Triskellion Films
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    Aug 16th 2024, 9:07 AM

    Relieved for her, remind me again of any of her tracks because I haven’t a Scooby Doo, then again I’m not 11 years of age.

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    Mute JB Software
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    Aug 16th 2024, 11:26 AM

    @Marcus Maher – Triskellion Films: don’t worry, only 5 more years to go….

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    Mute Robert Bell
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    Aug 16th 2024, 9:34 AM

    She is not too bad but Ed Sheeran is woeful.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Aug 16th 2024, 2:24 PM

    News?

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