According to the country’s interior minister, Austrian officials have detained an 18-year-old Iraqi national as part of an investigation into an alleged plot inspired by ISIS to target a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.
In an unprecedented move, three of Swift’s concerts in Austria were cancelled by organizers on Thursday. This decision came after authorities announced that they had successfully prevented a terrorist attack that was planned to take place during the Vienna performance of her popular Eras tour.
According to the ministry, the Iraqi teenager, who has recently pledged allegiance to ISIS, is the third person to be detained and is suspected to be connected with the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots.
According to a statement released on Friday, authorities were able to prevent a planned attack on a concert thanks to their timely intervention. The success of this operation was due to extensive investigations that targeted not only the main suspects but also their surrounding network.
According to the ministry, individuals who show signs of radicalism or engage in terrorist activities are being dealt with firmly and swiftly.
According to the ongoing investigation, the Iraqi teenager has been detained, but there is no direct link to the planned attack. The investigation has a broad scope, which led to his arrest.
Before their arrests, the 19-year-old and a 17-year-old, who are the main suspects, showed significant changes in their behavior and are currently being held in pre-trial detention.
According to Franz Ruf, Austria’s director general for public security, the 19-year-old suspect resigned from his job on July 25th, revealing that he had “something big planned” and intended to detonate an explosive device at the concert venue.
During the investigation, authorities found explosive devices, detonators, and an array of weapons, including machetes and knives, at the 19-year-old suspect’s residence. Additionally, they discovered 21,000 euros in counterfeit money and a significant amount of ISIS propaganda material, along with anabolic steroids. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old suspect had recently gone through a breakup with his girlfriend.
After questioning, the authorities released a 15-year-old who was also detained.
Fans ‘heartbroken’
Swift’s Eras tour was set to conclude its European leg in Vienna, where the pop star was scheduled to perform for three nights. Following her Austria shows, Swift would have moved on to London’s Wembley Stadium for five performances before concluding the tour in Canada in November and December.
According to Austrian authorities, Swift’s Vienna shows are expected to draw in approximately 65,000 audience members each, with up to 20,000 fans outside the stadium.
Fans, some of whom had journeyed from far corners of the globe, were left reeling by the cancellation of the shows.
Tiffany Kidd, a nurse hailing from Arizona, had never traveled outside the United States before. However, she was determined to watch her favorite pop star perform live. She acquired her first passport, tailored several outfits inspired by the artist, and spent $5,000 on a flight to Vienna. Sadly, the cancelations have left her heartbroken. When speaking with CNN on Wednesday, Tiffany expressed her disappointment about the situation.
Vanessa Szombathelyi, who is 24 years old, traveled from Ireland to Hungary with her best friend. Their plan was to drive across the border to Vienna to attend a Taylor Swift concert. This would have been Vanessa’s first Taylor Swift concert since she became a fan in 2018. She had been eagerly waiting for this moment since buying the ticket last summer.
On Wednesday, during an interview with CNN, she expressed her mixed emotions about the situation, ranging from tears to anger. However, she did mention feeling relieved that the suspects had finally been apprehended.
The Austrian economy will also suffer a setback due to the cancellations. Swift’s tour has been making waves by providing an economic boost in the cities she visits, with an estimated $380 million generated in London alone, according to the city’s mayor in June.
