VIENNA – Police kept a watchful eye as hundreds of Taylor Swift fans gathered and sang her songs in the Austrian capital on Thursday, their dreams of seeing her perform live abruptly frustrated.
Three sold-out shows in Vienna, part of Swift’s Eras Tours, were canceled by organizers after authorities announced arrests about an apparent conspiracy to attack their programssaying they appeared to have been inspired by the Islamic State group and al Qaeda.
The Ernst Happel Stadium, where up to 65,000 fans were expected, was empty on Thursday except for media footage outside. Later that day, on Corneliusgasse – a small street just 5 kilometers from the stadium – fans gathered to exchange friendship bracelets and mourn the cancellations. The beaded bracelets, typically with song titles or popular Swift phrases, are often exchanged at concerts with strangers.
Fans flocked to Corneliusgasse because the street name echoes “Cornelia Street,” the name of a contemplative synth-pop track from Swift’s 2019 album “Lover.”
The title refers to a street in New York’s Greenwich Village where Swift rented a luxury apartment in 2016 and fans now visit to take selfies. “And I hope I never lose you, I hope it never ends,” she sings in the song’s chorus. “I would never walk down Cornelia Street again.”
Fans cheered, danced and cheered as they sang some of their songs and took selfies with each other. Some were upbeat, while others were overcome with emotions as they hugged each other and cried, saying they were heartbroken.
Swifties attached bracelets to downtown trees. A police officer had his uniform decorated with bracelets.
When it started to rain, some fans dispersed, perhaps to reunite another day.
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
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