Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna cancelled over Islamist attack plot
- Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer says ‘a tragedy was prevented’, after news that two suspects had been arrested
Swift’s three concerts in Vienna this week were cancelled after the government confirmed a planned attack at the stadium, the organiser announced late on Wednesday, and Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer said “a tragedy was prevented”.
The main suspect of the attack had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group and had chemical substances at his home, authorities said.
The 19-year-old, with North Macedonian roots, worked with another 17-year-old Austrian male and are among three people detained after the plot was announced late on Wednesday, to the shock of “Swiftie” fans globally.
Austria’s general director for public security Frankz Ruf told ORF radio on Thursday that chemical substances and technical devices, showing “concrete preparatory actions”, were found at the 19-year-old’s house in the town of Ternitz.
Austrian police on Wednesday detained two people suspected of plotting attacks on concerts, Ruf said at a news conference on Wednesday evening.
“During our investigations, we identified preparatory actions and noted that the suspect had a particular focus on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” Ruf said.
