An Iraqi 18-year-old who recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group has been arrested in connection to a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Austria. The suspect, identified as an Iraqi national, was apprehended in Vienna on Thursday night, becoming the third person to be arrested in connection to the planned attack.
The main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots, had bomb-making materials, chemical substances, and technical devices at his home. He confessed to planning to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue” where the sold-out Eras Tour shows were to be held this week, using knives or homemade explosives.
Authorities are now investigating the networks of the suspects and evaluating physical and electronic evidence. The concert organizers had expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside, where the suspects planned to strike.
The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, prompting the cancellation of the three scheduled concerts. However, a series of five concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium next Thursday are still scheduled to proceed as planned.
Taylor Swift has not commented on the alleged foiled terrorist plot as of Friday morning. The investigation is ongoing, with the Austrian interior ministry working to ensure the safety and security of concertgoers and the general public.
