Austria's general director for public security, Franz Ruf, reported to ORF radio that a teenager, of North Macedonian descent, is the primary suspect in planning an attack on a Taylor Swift concert. During a search of his residence, authorities discovered chemical substances. The suspect, who is working closely with a 17-year-old Austrian, is currently under investigation.
Franz Ruf noted that the two males are members of a small group under police investigation, with the 19-year-old having pledged allegiance to the radical Islamic State group. "We are thoroughly examining their broader connections," Ruf said, adding that the threat level has been reduced due to the arrests.
Following a government warning about a planned attack, Taylor Swift's three concerts in Vienna, which were anticipated to attract 195,000 attendees, were canceled late Wednesday. Authorities have detained three individuals suspected of plotting attacks on these events.
Franz Ruf stated that searches of the main suspect's home in Ternitz, near the Hungarian border, revealed "concrete preparatory actions," including the seizure of chemical substances and technical equipment. According to the Kurier newspaper, which cited sources familiar with the case, the suspect had stolen the chemicals from his workplace and constructed a bomb. The 19-year-old had reportedly planned to drive a car into the crowd anticipated outside the stadium and had also considered using machetes and knives.
Austria's interior ministry and intelligence service were not immediately available for comment on the report's specifics. The canceled concerts were part of Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour, which began on March 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona, and is scheduled to conclude on December 8, 2024, in Vancouver, Canada. Taylor Swift, 34, has yet to address the cancellations on her official Instagram account, where she has 283 million followers.
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