Third teen suspect arrested in Vienna over foiled terror plot at Taylor Swift concert
Aug 09, 2024
Berlin [Germany], August 9 : An Austrian minister said on Friday that a third suspect, an 18-year-old Iraqi national, was arrested in Vienna over a plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert, CNN reported.
German publication DW cited the minister Gerhard Karner as making the announcement, a day after two other teenagers were arrested after authorities foiled a terror attack planned for the Vienna leg of the American singer's blockbuster Eras tour.
Organisers also cancelled three of Taylor Swift concerts planned for the Austrian capital.
According to Austrian minister Karner, the main suspect was a 19-year-old while a 17-year-old has also been detained. Both had sworn "oaths of allegiance" to the "Islamic State" (IS) terror group as per the report in DW.
CNN reported that international intelligence agencies helped Austrian authorities uncover the alleged plot, said Karner, after police said the suspects were "radicalized by the internet."
Addressing a press conference in Vienna, the country's director general for public security, Franz Ruf said that those arrested were in contact with other individuals who knew about the plans, as per the US broadcasting outlet.
The 19-year-old quit his job on July 25, saying he had "something big" planned, Ruf said, adding that he planned to detonate a device in the perimeter of the concert venue. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old, who was arrested in Vienna on Wednesday afternoon, recently broke up with his girlfriend, CNN reported.
In a post on X, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer called the cancellation of Swift's concerts a "bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria" but said a tragedy had been prevented.
Swift's Eras Tour had began in Glendale, Arizona on March 18, 2023 and has since passed through the United States, South America, Asia and Australia, and is currently on its European leg before it makes a return to North America.
The US publication Variety reported that Swift is still due to perform at the Wembley Stadium in London for five more dates between August 15-20.
