Taylor Swift Shows Cancelled in Vienna Due to Planned Terrorist Attack
VIENNA – Austrian authorities revealed Thursday that the two suspects involved in a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna were influenced by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. Bomb-making materials were discovered at one of the suspect’s homes. One suspect confessed to planning to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”
Three sold-out concerts were canceled the previous day, leaving fans devastated. Many had spent thousands on travel and accommodations to attend the Eras Tour shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, which stood empty Thursday morning, save for media coverage outside.
Concert organizers supported the decision to cancel the events, noting that each concert was expected to host up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside. The foiled attack was reportedly planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner.
Officials reported that the 19-year-old Austrian suspect had been planning the attack since July, recently uploading an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group. He intended to use knives or homemade explosives in the attack outside the stadium.
During a raid at his home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices indicating “concrete preparatory acts,” stated Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior.
The second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian, was found with Islamic State and al-Qaida materials at his home. Employed just days before by a company servicing the concert venue, he was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.
In accordance with Austrian privacy regulations, the suspects’ names have not been released.
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