An American man, aged 34, has been detained in Germany after making threats against Taylor Swift on social media, just ahead of her concert in Gelsenkirchen. Police apprehended him during security checks as they could not entirely dismiss the potential risk he posed. He had purchased a ticket for Swift’s performance at Veltins-Arena, scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as part of her Eras Tour.
Authorities were alerted by event organisers and took action based on concerns for safety. The man will remain in custody until Saturday but police confirmed there was no threat to Swift or the audience, as the first concert, which attracted around 60,000 attendees, proceeded without incident.
In a show of support, Gelsenkirchen temporarily renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” and celebrated the artist with a dedicated spot on their local “Walk of Fame”. Following her Gelsenkirchen shows, Swift is set to perform in Hamburg and Munich.