"A queasy feeling"

Concerns about Frequency, but organizers reassured

The Frequency Festival will take place again in St. Pölten from August 14 to 17.

(Bild: APA/FLORIAN WIESER)

Following the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna due to attack plans, security authorities are on alert - controls at major events are to be intensified. Since Wednesday morning, the Frequency Festival in St. Pölten has been on standby. An employee contacted the "Krone" with concern - but the organizer can reassure her.

It has now been a week since the concerts by megastar Taylor Swift had to be canceled by promoter Barracuda Music due to terror plans. The disappointment was and still is huge among fans. Operational concepts were immediately tightened up for the next major events.

In addition to the Coldplay concerts, which are due to take place in Vienna next week, the Frequency Festival with Ed Sheeran on Wednesday is the first event on the executive's agenda.

Police call for vigilance
The police are also calling on guests to be vigilant and report any suspicious observations. But what about the staff at the event? An insider contacted the "Krone" - she wishes to remain anonymous.

"I have a queasy feeling ..."
"We are hardly checked, if at all." A glance at the crew wristbands by the security staff would be enough. "Then they wave us in," says the young woman. You can even use the wristband to gain access to the stage - without any further checks.

The Frequency Festival takes place in St. Pölten again from August 14 to 17.

(Bild: APA/FLORIAN WIESER)

"Quite funny"
Especially in view of the fact that Taylor Swift's concerts have been canceled due to suspected terrorism. This also worries the young woman: "I didn't pay any attention to it at first, but then we talked about it in our group and it's really strange. I have a queasy feeling," she tells the Krone.

Another point of criticism: "The security staff are mostly young lads. In my estimation, no more than 20 years old. They don't give the impression of being trained security guards."

The security staff are predominantly young lads, they don't give the impression of being trained security men.

Eine Crew-Mitarbeiterin

The tighter security measures announced in the run-up to the festival - at least in terms of staff - have therefore apparently not materialized: "I left the festival site and went shopping, and even when I came back, nobody checked me - regardless of the entrance. We can go in and out how and where we want."

A brief explanation of the situation

• An Austrian Islamist cell has planned a terrorist attack on one of the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna.
• A 19-year-old from Ternitz (Lower Austria) and two other teenage boys were arrested.
• According to information from "Krone", one suspect (17) worked for a facility company that was active on the concert grounds.
• Various toxic liquids such as sulphuric acid were found in the 19-year-old's house.

Lack of vehicle control on the premises
During set-up, the employee and her colleagues drove onto the site by car, which was also not checked: "We could have taken anything in there. Starting with glass bottles, which are actually prohibited ..."

All crew members were thoroughly screened by the security police.

Frequency-Veranstalter Harry Jenner

Frequency organizer Harry Jenner from Barracuda Music takes a relaxed view of the accusations. When asked by "Krone", he assures that all crew members have been known for years and that they had already been "thoroughly screened by the security police" in advance.

Freedom of movement important for the organization
In response to the accusation that some of the security staff may be too young, Jenner says that they can only be hired when they reach the age of majority. The boys should therefore be at least 18. It is also essential for the organization that the employees are allowed to move freely around the site.

The Frequency is "one of the safest events ever", Jenner reassures - and the security concept has been tightened up again following the incidents in Vienna, which is why longer waiting times due to checks should be expected.