Authorities Arrest Third Teenager in Foiled Taylor Swift Concert Terror Plot
In a concerning development, authorities in Vienna have apprehended a third teenager linked to a thwarted terrorist attack aimed at a Taylor Swift concert scheduled in the city this week. Officials have indicated that the 18-year-old, who has ties to the main suspect, was not directly involved in the attack plan but had been in communication with the conspirators and had recently declared allegiance to the Islamic State.
Ms. Swift was set to perform three concerts in Vienna from Thursday through Saturday, but the events have been canceled following the arrests of two teenagers who were allegedly plotting to assault the sold-out venue, which accommodates 50,000 attendees. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated that the planned attack was intended to leave a “trail of blood.”
Since the detention of the two teenagers on Wednesday, law enforcement has been working diligently to investigate the details surrounding the alleged attack. However, after the police reported a complete confession from the primary suspect, they concluded that there was no longer an immediate threat to public safety.
The investigation is focusing on a network of individuals connected to the primary suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian citizen of North Macedonian descent, who is said to have radicalized online and pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State. While the authorities have chosen not to disclose the names of the suspects due to privacy regulations, they confirmed that both teenagers arrested on Wednesday were born in Austria and hold Austrian citizenship.
During a raid conducted at the home of the main suspect on Wednesday, police uncovered a variety of dangerous items, including chemicals utilized for bomb-making, explosives, timers, machetes, knives, and a working police siren. Investigators believe the siren was intended to help the suspect gain access to or navigate the area surrounding the stadium.
The cancellation of the concerts has significantly impacted approximately 200,000 Taylor Swift fans, many of whom traveled from various continents to attend her performances as part of the much-anticipated Eras Tour. As of now, Ms. Swift has not publicly addressed the concert cancellations.
Additionally, a 15-year-old boy who was taken in for questioning regarding the plot has since been released and is now regarded as a witness. The police have established that he was not complicit in the attack but was familiar with many details of the plan and had aided in corroborating essential aspects of the main suspect’s confession.
