Taylor Swift's Vienna concerts: 18‑year-old Iraqi suspected
New information regarding the planned terrorist attacks at Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna has emerged. Austrian authorities have detained a third suspect in the case, an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen.
9 August 2024 13:07
The planned concerts in Austria by the global star Taylor Swift have been cancelled after the police foiled a terrorist attack. It was established that the target was one of the three concerts of the American singer in Vienna. The first concert was scheduled for Thursday. Austrian authorities reported the threat a day earlier and arrested two suspects involved in the planning.
On Friday, the Austrian Ministry of the Interior announced the arrest of a third suspect in Vienna, an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen.
They pledged allegiance to ISIS
The 18-year-old Iraqi, detained on Thursday evening, was in contact with the main suspect, a 19-year-old of North Macedonian origin, but was not "directly involved" in the attack plans, stated Austrian Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner during a Friday press conference, as quoted by the Associated Press. Both suspects, however, had made a "pledge of allegiance" to ISIS.
Austria's Minister of the Interior said the foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday.
In the main suspect's home, investigators found materials for bomb production. The 19-year-old allegedly admitted to planning to "kill as many people as possible" using knives or homemade explosives. Along with him, the police also detained a 17-year-old who had secured employment at the stadium where the concert was to occur.
On Friday, the Austrian Ministry of the Interior reported that investigators are examining a "network" of suspects.
