The teenage suspects in a plot to carry out a terror attack at now-cancelled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna were planning to use knives or homemade explosives to kill as many people as possible, according to officials.
A 19-year-old suspect, who had posted an oath of allegiance to the current leader of Islamic State to an internet account weeks earlier, was aiming to “kill himself and a large crowd at the concert either today or tomorrow,” the head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, said.
The 19-year-old, who is said to have North Macedonian roots, wanted to use knives or self-made explosives outside the Ernst Happel Stadium to kill as many people as possible, Mr Haijawi-Pirchner said during a press conference on Thursday.
He was “clearly radicalised in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels”.
The teenager is considered the main suspect but he allegedly worked closely with a 17-year-old Austrian, general director for public security Frankz Ruf told the broadcaster ORF.
The two suspects have been arrested.
No other suspects are being sought, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said. However, a 15-year-old, who had been in contact with both suspects, was also questioned by police.
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The 17-year-old, who has Turkish and Croatian roots, had started a job at the concert venue days before the event was cancelled over the terror threat, according to officials.
Policing minister Diana Johnson said Scotland Yard will look at “all the intelligence” ahead of Swift returning to the UK for a series of concerts next week.
London’s Metropolitan Police said there was nothing to indicate the events in Vienna would have an impact on the upcoming gigs at Wembley Stadium, due to take place over five nights starting on 15 August.
But a spokesperson added: “As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review.”
Swift was due to play on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, for an estimated 170,000 fans who flocked to the Austrian capital from all over the world for the sold-out Eras Tour shows.
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”.
Swift, 34, has not yet commented on the cancellations on her official Instagram account which has 283 million followers.
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Mr Ruf said chemical substances and technical devices showing “concrete preparatory actions” were found at the 19-year-old’s house in the town of Ternitz.
Internet evidence showed he had sworn allegiance to Islamic State’s leader, the official added.
The suspects sought to use knives or homemade explosives as part of the alleged terror plot, AP news agency says, citing an official.
Authorities found Islamic State and al-Qaida material at the home of the 17-year-old suspect.
He was arrested by special police forces near the Ernst Happel Stadium, where the concerts were supposed to take place this week.
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 he had planned to drive a car into the crowd expected to gather outside the stadium, and had also considered using machetes and knives.
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.
Source : Sky News
