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Austrian authorities have detained an 18-year-old Iraqi national in connection with a suspected plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, according to Austria's Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner. The Iraqi is reportedly linked to a 19-year-old Austrian of North Macedonian descent, who is believed to be the main suspect in the foiled attack.
The Iraqi suspect had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) on August 6, though it remains uncertain if he was directly involved in the plot, Karner stated. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities planning to interrogate more suspects and conduct further property searches.
The main suspect, who had also sworn loyalty to IS, confessed to planning a deadly assault on the approximately 20,000 fans expected to attend the concert at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium. This led to the cancellation of all three of Swift's scheduled shows in the Austrian capital due to security concerns. Authorities revealed that the 19-year-old suspect had quit his job less than two weeks before the planned attack, stating he "had big plans."
In addition to the main suspect and the Iraqi, two other Austrian youths, aged 17 and 15, were arrested on Wednesday. The 17-year-old, who had been employed by a company providing services at the stadium, has so far refused to cooperate with investigators. He was already known to authorities and appears to have been radicalized. The 15-year-old is still being intensively questioned by police.
Austrian officials reportedly received intelligence about the potential attack from U.S. sources, as Austrian law does not permit the monitoring of instant messaging apps that the suspects used for communication. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer emphasized the importance of international cooperation, noting that it played a crucial role in preventing a tragedy in Vienna.
Taylor Swift, whose next concert is scheduled in London, has not commented on the cancellations. British police have stated that there is no evidence suggesting the Vienna plot poses a threat to the London show.
[Source: Reuters]
