Suspects who planned an ISIS terror attack during Taylor Swift’s Vienna shows were allegedly “hired as security guards”.
Officers arrested two suspected extremists on Wednesday (August 7), one who appeared to be planning an attack on the event in the Vienna area. Friends of the 19-year-old leading suspect are reported to have been hired as employees of the security service at the American singer’s concert, according to Austrian outlet Kurier.
The publication claims that the teen reportedly planned to drive a car into 20,000 fans standing outside the Ernst Happel Stadium during the concerts. It is understood they then planned to attack the crowd with machetes and knives.
READ MORE: Taylor Swift cancels all Vienna shows after suspected terror plot at Eras concert foiled
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They also claimed a “well advanced” bomb was going to be constructed using chemicals stolen from the teen’s workplace. The suspect allegedly planned to create an explosive device using the chemicals TATP, which are very sensitive to impact.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Austria’s chancellor later confirmed the tragedy had been averted after the star’s shows were cancelled. Karl Nehammer took to Twitter, formerly known as X, to share his thoughts on the arrests.
He wrote: “Thanks to the intensive cooperation of our police and the newly establish DSN (Directorate for Security and Intelligence) with foreign services, the threat was identified early on, combated, and a tragedy was prevented.”
The 19-year-old Austrian suspect, who has North Macedonian roots, was arrested in Ternitz, just south of Vienna, followed by a second person in the Austrian capital. The teenager’s arrest took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning, while the second arrest took place in Vienna later in the day.
(Image: Getty Images)
Franz Ruf, director-general for public safety in the Ministry of the Interior, stated in a press conference that the suspects were allegedly radicalised online. Ruf explained that the 19-year-old suspect allegedly pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State last month.
It is understood the alleged attack was aimed at Vienna, focusing particularly on Taylor Swift’s concert. Mr Ruf said that authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possibly 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 reported plans forced the Love Story hitmaker to cancel three of her planned gigs in the capital. The Austrian ticketing service Barracuda Music was forced to break the news to her devastated fans.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The company wrote: “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Vienna Shows Cancelled Due to Government Officials Confirmation of Planned Terrorist Attack. With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”
The statement added that fans who had purchased tickets for the event would receive an automatic refund within the next 10 business days. Swift was due to perform at Vienna’s Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Before the decision was made to cancel the three upcoming shows, Ruf explained that security at the concerts would be increased following the alleged terror threat. Police said the shows were expected to draw in 65,000 concertgoers per day, with an additional 10,000 to 15,000 fans outside of the arena.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
