A teenager accused of plotting a terror attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria had carried out “concrete preparatory actions”, according to officials.
Chemicals and “technical devices” were also found during a search of the home of the 19-year-old suspect, who had posted an oath of allegiance to the current leader of Islamic State to an internet account weeks earlier, they said.
The teenager, said to have North Macedonian roots, is considered the main suspect, and worked closely with a 17-year-old Austrian, general director for public security Frankz Ruf told the broadcaster ORF.
Swift was due to play at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, for an estimated 170,000 Swifties who flocked to the Austrian capital from all over the world for the sold-out events.
But event organiser Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post on Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety” after “confirmation of [the] planned terrorist attack”.
The 19-year-old is considered the main suspect, working closely with a 17-year-old Austrian, Mr Ruf said, adding the two males are part of a small group police are looking into. They are among three people detained after the alleged plot was announced on Wednesday evening.
A 15-year-old Austrian national has also been questioned after being identified as a suspect, an intelligence official has said, according to Reuters, although it is not clear if he is also being detained.
Officials have confirmed no other suspects are being sought.
Mr Ruf said authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” the Austria Press Agency reported.
The Kurier newspaper, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that the suspect had stolen the chemicals from his workplace and had built a bomb.
The newspaper reported that the 19-year-old had planned to drive a car into the crowd expected to gather outside the
stadium, and had also considered using machetes and knives.
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‘Tragedy prevented’
Swift, 34, has not yet commented on the cancellations on her official Instagram account which has 283 million followers.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer posted on X that “the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organisers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria”.
“The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious,” he wrote.
But he added that, thanks to intensive co-operation between police and Austrian and foreign intelligence, “the threat could be recognised early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented”.
Barracuda Music said “all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days”.
The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swift’s official website.
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