Security tight as Taylor Swift’s tour resumes after terror threat

Taylor Swift returns to London on Thursday, resuming the world’s biggest ever concert tour after her Vienna dates were canceled when an Islamic State-inspired attack was foiled.

British police say there is nothing to indicate those events would impact Swift’s five appearances at Wembley Stadium, where 90,000 people are expected to cheer her on each evening.

Security is set to be tight, but counter terrorism expert Chris Phillips says stadiums like Wembley are as safe as anywhere in the world.

”The fact that this incident happened in Vienna just raises the temperature a little bit around security. You may well see more security guards doing more work outside the venue.”

Stadium security has told fans gathering around the stadium without a ticket, known as Tay-gating, that they will be moved on.
Those who do have tickets will enter via metal detectors.

Experts also said they expected staff to be re-vetted after a suspect in Vienna secured a job providing services at the Austrian venue.

Here’s International Director of G4S Academy, Noah Price.

“The insider threat is the one that’s capable of doing the most damage. A hybrid threat is going to do a lot of damage as well. Like when they have people on the inside and on the outside. Even if the one on the inside is just getting information. ”

Price says British authorities had learnt from the Manchester attack, a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert, which killed 22 people including young children.

Police, venue security and organisers now work as one to protect a venue like Wembley. Swift’s return to Britain could be emotional after recent events.

Three young children were killed at a Taylor Swift-inspired dance class in northern England in July.

Swift told her 284 million Instagram followers that she was “completely in shock” over the “loss of life and innocence.”