Serious threat situation – Cancelled Swift concerts in Vienna: Terror suspect confesses – News

After the arrest of two terror suspects, all three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna have been cancelled. An overview.

That happened: According to the security authorities, a 19-year-old radicalized Islamist had been planning attacks and had also targeted the popular US singer’s shows in the Austrian capital Vienna. To be on the safe side, all three events were canceled without replacement less than 24 hours before Swift’s first planned performance. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said at a media conference: “The situation was serious – and it is serious.” But: “A tragedy could have been prevented.”

This is what we know about the suspects: The 19-year-old Austrian was active on relevant platforms on the Internet. According to Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security, he is the main suspect. The police previously reported that he had become radicalized via online forums. He had only sworn an oath of allegiance to the terrorist organization Islamic State in July. He has now made a full confession, Ruf said.

According to Franz Ruf, the second person arrested is a 17-year-old. There is no longer any immediate danger, the general director told ORF. At a media conference held by the Interior Ministry, it was also announced that another person, a 15-year-old, had been stopped and questioned. The authorities are not currently looking for any other suspects. Ruf says that the arrests have minimized the concrete threat situation. However, an abstract threat with an increased risk of terrorism still exists.

Details about the suspects and their plans


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The 19-year-old Main suspect resigned from his job on July 25, it was announced at a media conference of the Austrian Interior Ministry. Since then, the 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots has devoted himself to preparing an attack. During this time, he has also noticeably changed his appearance.

Material for making explosives was found in his apartment, including chemicals, liquids, explosive devices and technical equipment. Explosives and stabbing weapons were also found. He had made concrete preparations for an attack, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the State Security and Intelligence Directorate in the Austrian Interior Ministry.

The 19-year-old did not have a concert ticket, but wanted to strike in the vicinity of the stadium. He was part of an Islamist network that was known to the police. He had researched bomb-making online. In his extensive confession, he said that he intended to “kill himself and a large crowd of people either today or tomorrow,” said Haijawi-Pirchner.

A second 17-year-old was arrested in Vienna on Wednesday afternoon. He was also born in Austria. He had recently split up with his girlfriend. There had been a “clear social change” in both of them. Both were clearly willing to kill themselves, said Ruf.

How the two of them related to each other is now part of the investigation. According to the authorities, a 15-year-old was also arrested. His role is also being investigated.

Information from foreign intelligence services: According to Franz Ruf, there were tips from foreign secret services. Together with findings from the domestic Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN), these led to the results of the investigation. When asked whether these were specific tips from the US secret service – as the media had reported – the authorities did not answer at a media conference.

People in city.
Legend:

Thousands of Swift fans gather in Vienna’s city center on Thursday.

Keystone/ROLAND SCHLAGER

Thousands of Swift fans affected: Like all Swift concerts on the superstar’s tour – including those in Zurich a month ago – those in Vienna were sold out. There would have been 65,000 people in the Ernst Happel Stadium every evening, and the police expected another 15,000 to 20,000 Swift fans in the area around the stadium. The organizer promised to refund the ticket prices. Taylor Swift or her management have not yet commented. Swift has other concerts, including one in London next week. The police there have announced that the planned attacks in Vienna would have no effect on Swift’s performances at Wembley Stadium.

This is what politicians and authorities say: “The cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organizers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria,” wrote Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on X.

Franz Ruf explained that the cancellation of the concerts was the organizer’s decision. “We as police did everything humanly possible to ensure that the event could take place,” Ruf continued.

London mayor sticks to concerts


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Next week, Swift is scheduled to play in the British capital again on her tour. The television channel Sky News asked London Mayor Sadiq Khan whether the events had changed the plans.

“We are a capital, we are an international city, we regularly host major events,” he told the TV station. Khan referred to concerts such as those by Bruce Springsteen at Wembley Stadium or football matches in London. “We look forward to welcoming Taylor Swift back.”

“We have a lot of experience in providing police support for such events,” said Khan. A lot has been learned after the terrible attack in Manchester. In 2017, an Islamist suicide bomber detonated an explosive device after a concert by singer Ariana Grande, killing 22 people.

This is what the “Swifties” say: The fans reacted with disappointment, but also showed understanding for the cancellation. “I can’t believe it,” wrote one under the Instagram post by “Barracuda Music” announcing the cancellation. Many, however, described the cancellation as the right decision in view of the apparent concrete threat of terrorism.

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