- Teen planned ‘explosives and knives’ attack at Swift concert
- The 19-year-old Austrian citizen and two additional suspects – aged 15 and 17 – arrested
- The suspect, 19, was planning a suicide attack using explosives and knives and driving his car into crowds at the Talyor Swift concert
- There is evidence of IS propaganda and extremism content found
Teen planned ‘explosives and knives’ attack at Swift concert
Austrian authorities arrested a 19-year-old on Wednesday for plotting a suicide attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The suspect, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), admitted to planning an attack using explosives and knives. Swift’s three sold-out shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, expected to draw over 195,000 attendees, were cancelled as a result.
The suspect had reportedly stolen chemicals from his former workplace and made significant progress in bomb-making. Authorities also discovered weapons and evidence of his plans to drive a car into the crowd. The teen, an Austrian citizen of North Macedonian descent, had recently altered his appearance to match IS propaganda and shared extremist content online.
Two additional suspects, a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old, were also arrested. The 17-year-old worked for a company providing services at the stadium, while the 15-year-old was near the venue at the time of his arrest. Officials confirmed they are not seeking any other suspects.