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Metropolitan Police 'well prepared' for Taylor Swift's Wembley concerts

Taylor Swift played her first of five gigs at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 15 August
Taylor Swift played her first of five gigs at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 15 August

London's Metropolitan Police have said they are "well prepared" ahead of Taylor Swift's run of concerts at Wembley Stadium after her Vienna shows were called off amid an alleged terror plot.

The US pop star, 34, will play five nights at the London venue on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.

The concerts will wrap up the European leg of Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour. The hitmaker brought the tour to Dublin's Aviva Stadium for a three-night run in June.

Last Wednesday (7 August), all three of Swift's performances at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium were cancelled following the prevention of an allegedly planned terrorist attack.

Taylor Swift's Vienna concerts were cancelled due to a planned terrorist attack

A 19-year-old planned to target fans with knives or home-made explosives during the concert on Thursday or Friday, Austrian authorities said. Two other Austrian youths were also detained over the foiled plot.

Commander Lou Puddefoot of the Metropolitan Police told the PA news agency ahead of the London gigs: "A series of concerts will begin at Wembley on Thursday evening and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to the capital.

"Over recent months, we have been working very closely with the stadium, event organisers and other partners, to ensure that all visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

"We are well prepared for this event and the public should expect to see officers, security staff and stewards working together in and around the venue and at transport hubs.

"The Met is regularly involved in the policing of these types of events and as always, we have a flexible plan in place to ensure everyone can enjoy themselves safely.

"Wembley Stadium has provided detailed advice on its website to ensure ticketholders travelling to the venue have a great experience.

"We continue to ask the public to remain vigilant and if something doesn't feel right, to report it to a police officer or in an emergency call 999."

Organisers have said there will be "additional checks" for Swift's concerts in London.

Wembley Stadium put a guide online for fans attending the dates and said: "Additional ticket checks will be in operation at points in and around the stadium prior to entry."

Additionally, ticketless fans will be unable to congregate outside the arena on show day, thwarting a usually common practice among fans known as "tay-gating".

Security measures also include the prohibiting of overnight camping, limits on bag size, and a ban on laptops, iPads, aerosols, umbrellas, glass or metal containers.

Swift has not yet commented on her cancelled Vienna shows or the foiled terror plot.

The singer will be joined on the London dates by support acts Raye, Holly Humberstone, Paramore and Suki Waterhouse.

Read more: Taylor Swift review: Pop royalty wows Dublin

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Additional reporting: PA

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