Wembley Stadium hires specialist counterterrorism security ahead of Taylor Swift Eras Tour-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Taylor Swift will return to the UK with her Wembley Stadium Eras Tour shows next week (Picture: Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)

Wembley Stadium is taking extra steps to ensure the safety of Taylor Swift fans at her London shows next week.

The US pop star, 34, will return to the UK for five concerts in the capital beginning on August 15 but, understandably, many have expressed fears after Taylor’s Vienna gigs were cancelled last minute due to a terror threat.

Last week, thousands were left both devastated and anxious after a planned terror attack was unearthed on the Austrian Eras Tour shows, where a group arranged to detonate explosives inside the gig and cause mass casualties outside the venue.

So far, three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the foiled plot.

Tickets were refunded and while Taylor is yet to speak out personally on the shocking events, it’s believed her London concerts will be going ahead.

As such, the stadium – which holds 90,000 fans – is believed to have implemented additional private security sespecialising in counterterrorism.

The singer will perform to five sold-out crowds (Picture: Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/Shutterst)

Ben Knott, operations director at FGH Security, explained to TMZ that private security firms work in conjunction with cops outside of events as they keep an eye for any suspicious activity.

He added that counterterrorism security forces tend to deploy both plainclothes and uniformed personnel.

It is their job to ‘look for strange people in the crowd’ and ‘if someone’s scanning the area for cameras and police, that would be a sign something’s not right, and security would approach.’

In most instances, their initial approach is to be friendly and ask if the suspicious-looking individual needs assistance with anything, but should anything more concerning be suspected, police will be called in immediately.

As reported by the American outlet, the private security force is being deployed due to the thwarted Vienna attack, but also because of the ongoing London riots, which are placing a major strain on local police.

Sources also assured that Wembley, in particular, commonly has high-level security measures in place, especially compared to similar venues.

Extra security has been hired, specialising in counterterrorism (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

Fans will not be allowed to gather outside Wembley Stadium during theshows

This makes it ‘one of the safest in Europe from a counterterrorism perspective’.

However, there are still conversations around keeping Swifties outside the venue safe.

Thousands have been known to congregate around the perimeter of Taylor’s venues, singing and dancing along in their Eras Tour outfits after being unable to secure tickets themselves.

Currently, fans without tickets are not allowed to gather outside of Wembley Stadium next week, as per an official notice on its website.

On its Frequently Asked Questions page, a paragraph reads: ‘Anyone without a ticket should not travel to Wembley Stadium.

‘No one is allowed to stand outside any entrance or on the Olympic Steps at the front of the stadium.

Fans in Vienna, Austria were left shaken after a terror plot was foiled at Taylor’s show last week (Picture: Alex Halada/AFP via Getty Images)

Swifties have been gathering in the streets to sing songs and exchange friendship bracelets (Picture: Alex Halada/AFP via Getty Images)

‘Non ticket holders will be moved on.’

It comes after London’s Metropolitan Police issued a statement reiterating that Taylor’s concerts will proceed as normal.

‘There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London,’ they said.

Policing minister Diana Johnson has also reassured fans that Scotland Yard will look at ‘all the intelligence’ ahead of the concerts.

Additionally, Mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News on Thursday that the city is ‘looking forward to welcoming Taylor Swift back’ as a region that ‘hosts major events on a regular basis’.

He added: ‘I’m currently at (Chelsea’s football stadium) Stamford Bridge. Every other week there’s a game taking place. We have a huge amount of experience in policing these events, we’re never complacent, many lessons were learnt after the awful Manchester Arena attack.

‘The police work closely, not just with City Hall, but with councils, but also with those who host concerts, like the Taylor Swift concert coming up over the next couple of weeks.

‘I’m sure Vienna has got its own reasons to cancel the Taylor Swift concerts, we’re going to carry on, working closely with police (and) ensuring that the Taylor Swift concerts can take place in London safely.’

Taylor will be performing in London on August 15, 16, 17, 19, and 20 with opening acts Paramore, Sofia Isella, Holly Humberstone, Suki Waterhouse, Maisie Peters, and Raye.

Wembley Stadium has been contacted for comment.

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