U2 Concert Evacuated Over Security Breach Involving A Gun
U2’s concert was evacuated on Sunday night following a security breach involving a gun.
According to the Irish Mirror, the band was getting ready to perform at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, when an announcement was made that all fans needed to be evacuated from the building. The police were apparently searching for a specific person in the crowd who was armed with a gun.
The New York Daily News suggests the armed fan was an off-duty police officer who was wrongly allowed to enter the venue with a gun. Police spokesman Kjell Lindgren said they were still investigating a “suspected weapons offense” and “internal unit dealing with complaints against police officers” had been contacted.
U2 had to cancel a concert after a security breach prompted police to evacuate the arena http://t.co/F4txC147DL pic.twitter.com/eBzSL4nPyc
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) September 21, 2015
“There are reports that it may have been a police officer,” he said, adding that no one was arrested and no weapons were discovered during the sweep of the venue.
Police officers in Sweden are not allowed to carry their guns when they are off duty.
Because U2’s concert was evacuated, the band took to their official website to give their fans details as to what had happened, adding that the “audience safety is paramount.”
“Due to a security breach, Stockholm’s The Globen evacuated the audience from the building this evening. As the breach has not been resolved quickly and as audience safety is paramount, the police have advised The Globen and Live Nation that they have no option but to postpone tonight’s show, to a rescheduled date of Tuesday 22nd September. All tickets from Sunday 20th September are valid for Tuesday 22nd September. The organizers apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank the audience for their understanding. Their safety is the priority.”
The concert has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 22. The fans who had purchased tickets for Sunday night’s show can use those tickets to enter the Tuesday night concert. If they are unable to make it on Tuesday, they can request a full refund of their ticket price.
Cecilia Uhler, 45, said she had waited for nearly an hour to enter the concert, which was supposed to start at 8 p.m., when the authorities made the decision to evacuate nearly three hours later. She said she can make it back Tuesday, but feels bad for those who can’t.
U2 concert evacuated in Stockholm after ‘security breach’ http://t.co/EKiVpaVimu via @IrishTimesWorld pic.twitter.com/1V5wfGPWMO
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) September 21, 2015
“For my own part I can come back on Tuesday,” she said. “But I feel really bad for all the people who can’t make in then.”
The stop in Sweden was part of U2’s Innocence and Experience tour, a seven-month and 76-date tour to support its Songs of Innocence album.
[Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images]
