Vienna [Austria], August 9: A 19-year-old man who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group has confessed to plotting an attack on the Vienna leg of Taylor Swift's Eras tour, Austrian security authorities said on Thursday.
He had wanted to use home-made bombs and knives to kill people during one of Swift's performance, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, director of state security and intelligence in the Austrian Interior Ministry.
The main suspect and a second person, aged 17, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of plans to attack major events in Vienna, including Swift's concerts, said Franz Ruf, director general for public security in the Interior Ministry.
No further terrorist suspects are currently being sought, but the investigations surrounding the duo are continuing at full speed, said Ruf.
A 15-year-old who had been in contact with the main suspect was also being questioned and was in custody. He is said to have been aware of the 19-year-old's terrorist plans, but the extent to which he was involved remains the subject of investigation.
The 19-year-old did not have a concert ticket but intended to strike near the Ernst Happel Stadium. He was part of an Islamist network and already on the police's radar, the official said.
The suspect had searched online about how to build bombs and told investigators in his confession that he wanted to "kill himself and a large crowd of people" at a Swift show on either Thursday or Friday, Haijawi-Pirchner said.
The 19-year-old had quit his job on July 25 and said that he had big plans coming up, according to investigators. Ruf said chemical substances and bomb-making equipment were seized from the Austrian's home in Ternitz, south of Vienna.
Swift's performances had been scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All three were cancelled on Wednesday night by the organizer. Around 170,000 fans were expected to attend over the three nights.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer defended the decision to cancel the concerts. The last-minute decision by event organizer Barracuda Music was "very responsible and understandable," Nehammer said at a press conference.
Swift played shows in Warsaw earlier this month and is scheduled to play five dates in London starting next week.
Source: Qatar Tribune
