NASHVILLE — “I feel sorry for whoever’s sitting behind us,” Marge Haines chuckles.

The 69-year-old mother is chatting with her daughters, Abby Luna and Val Haines, in Abby’s kitchen in Tennessee about their upcoming trip to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in London. Marge beams with excitement, her sparkling “We are never getting back together. Like ever.” T-shirt catching the light as she plans to don her “Red”-themed shirt at Wembley Stadium on August 19.

“Yeah, it’s definitely going to be loud with all three of us,” Val, 38, adds.

“We can be quite the noisy group,” Abby, 40, jokes, and they all share a laugh.

The trio reflects on how they became fans of Swift. For sisters Val and Abby, their admiration for the star began in 2006.

“We’ve loved her for 18 years,” Abby shares. “We saw Taylor open for Rascal Flatts in Knoxville in 2006.”

Even though three of the Eras Tour concerts in Vienna were canceled due to a foiled terrorist plot, the sisters and their mom feel confident traveling to the UK for Swift’s final European performance.

“Taylor won’t jeopardize anyone’s safety,” Abby remarks. “I’m relieved she canceled the Vienna shows. If she has to cancel London as well, so be it. We’ll still be there, singing in the streets just like they did in Vienna.”

“I’m a bit worried,” Marge admits, “but I’m also cautious when I go shopping at Kroger. I always check for exits. I’m concerned at Titans games too, but that won’t stop me from enjoying this.”

The London Metropolitan Police Department informed YSL News that “there’s nothing indicating that the investigations by Austrian authorities will affect upcoming events here in London.”

Wembley Stadium has implemented stricter security for the five concerts. The stadium’s website states that overnight camping is prohibited, and fans without passes will be “asked to leave.”

“The Met collaborates closely with venue security and other partners to establish effective security and policing strategies,” a police spokesperson from London says. “As always, we will carefully review any new information.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan mentioned last week, “We will continue to work closely with police to ensure that the concerts are held safely in London.”

Swift has not publicly addressed the canceled performances. She typically shares a statement on her Instagram stories following announcements of delays.

After postponing one of her shows in Rio de Janeiro in the fall of 2023, the singer stated on Instagram, “The health and safety of my fans, fellow performers, and crew is my top priority.” In light of the tragic stabbing of three children last month in Southport, UK, during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, she expressed, “The horror of yesterday’s attack is overwhelming, and I’m in complete shock.”

Vienna considered a ‘soft target’

“When you pass through security checkpoints, you’re assessed and screened, generally being in a secured area which makes you a hard target,” explains Carey Rapport, a prominent professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University and a specialist in event security. “However, if you’re waiting in line to get screened, or are a pedestrian approaching a stadium without having gone through security, you are more vulnerable, a soft target.”

Authorities have reported that a 19-year-old man arrested in Austria had intended to target a soft area outside the Ernst-Happel Stadium.

“He aimed to carry out an attack in the vicinity of the stadium, intending to inflict harm on as many people as possible using knives or even homemade explosives,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Austrian Directorate of State Security and Intelligence. Officials added that the suspect had recently resigned from his job and pledged allegiance to ISIS.

“Unfortunately, large venues can be appealing targets for terrorist groups, particularly jihadist factions that often aim to make a statement,” explains Corrinne Zoli, a part-time instructor at the Forensics and National Security Sciences Institute at Syracuse University. Zoli specializes in researching global conflicts and their patterns.

“These organizations often target young people, as such attacks generate significant media attention that they believe helps spread their message of fear,” she adds. “This is part of their strategy.”

When Taylor Swift turned 30, she confided in Elle Magazine that her greatest anxiety — especially after the tragic events at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert in 2017 and the mass shooting at a Jason Aldean show in Las Vegas the same year — was ensuring the safety of her fans. In both tragedies, the assailants operated outside the venues.

“I felt intense fear about going on tour this time,” Swift noted in a 2019 interview, “because I was unsure how we could keep 3 million fans secure over seven months. A tremendous amount of planning, financial resources, and effort went into safeguarding my audience. My concern over violence has seeped into my personal life.”

Swift’s Eras Tour is making history as she presents over three hours of her greatest hits spanning 11 albums. Fans forge deep connections during the performances, with emotional moments such as mothers and daughters crying during “Marjorie” and fans proposing during “Love Story.”

“If I were her consultant,” Zoli advises, “I would suggest being aware that you don’t want personal experiences to be linked with terrorist threats. This is not just about fear; it also involves the heavy baggage associated with ISIS and other related groups.”

Security experts believe technology will play a key role in the future

Swift is accustomed to touring worldwide. Since 2009, she has dazzled audiences with her talents while touring for her albums “Fearless,” “Speak Now,” “Red,” “1989,” and “Reputation,” before starting the Eras Tour.

“Initial plans are set, and as the concert date nears, these plans are consistently evaluated and updated according to the threat level and intelligence from local law enforcement and venue management,” states Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association, which represents over 1,500 security companies worldwide. “It’s not a scenario where initial planning is done and then left untouched; strategies evolve based on known and potential threats, which are enhanced as the event approaches.”

According to Erickson, venues are increasingly incorporating advanced security technologies, including facial recognition systems and extended law enforcement periphery.

“Facial recognition technology is dependable,” he explains. “It’s commonly seen at airports, allowing for streamlined and secure entry into venues. I also foresee more strategies implemented further away from the venue’s boundary, with cameras assessing unusual traffic behaviors by monitoring the crowd size in potential high-risk areas.”

As Swift concludes the European leg of her tour with five performances in London, she is gearing up to return to North America, where she will finish her extensive two-year tour in cities like Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada.