Taylor Swift ISIS attack suspect 'planned to drive car into 20,000 fans' at Vienna concert
Friends of the 19-year-old leading suspect are believed to have been hired as security guards in the stewarding area of the Vienna concert, Austrian media reports
Suspects in a planned ISIS terror attack who forced Taylor Swift's shows in Vienna to be cancelled were reportedly hired as security guards for the concert, as more horrifying details of the plan are revealed.
The Mirror reports that authorities arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom is believed to have been planning an attack on the event in the Vienna area, while a manhunt is under way for a third suspect. Friends of the 19-year-old key suspect are said to have been hired as employees of the security service at the concert.
The teenager reportedly planned to drive a car into the 20,000 fans standing outside the Ernst Happel Stadium during the concerts before attacking with machetes and knives.
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Local outlets report that a "well advanced" bomb was to be constructed after chemical substances were found at his home. The suspect allegedly planned to create an explosive device using chemicals TATP, which are particularly sensitive to impact, Austrian outlet Kurier reports.
The second man arrested is believed to be a 17-year-old Austrian, while a 15-year-old Austrian national has also been questioned after being identified as a suspect.
Austria's chancellor later confirmed the tragedy had been averted following the shows' cancellations. Karl Nehammer wrote on X following news of the arrests: "Thanks to the intensive cooperation of our police and the newly established DSN (Directorate for Security and Intelligence) with foreign services, the threat was identified early on, combated, and a tragedy was prevented."
The 19-year-old Austrian suspect with North Macedonian roots was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.
Franz Ruf, director-general for public safety in the Ministry of the Interior, stated in a press conference that the suspects were allegedly radicalised online. Ruf said the 19-year-old suspect allegedly pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State last month.
The reported plans forced the popstar to cancel three planned concerts in the capital, with Austrian ticketing service Barracuda Music breaking the news to devastated fans.
The company wrote: "We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety", adding those who had purchased tickets for the show would receive an automatic refund within the next 10 business days. Swift was due to perform at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Before the decision was taken to cancel the three shows, Ruf had said security at the concerts would be increased following the alleged terror threat. Police said the shows were expected to draw 65,000 concertgoers per day, with an additional 10,000 to 15,000 fans outside of the area.
Policing minister Diana Johnson said Scotland Yard will look at "all the intelligence" ahead of Taylor Swift returning to the UK for a series of concerts. She said: "Clearly, the police will be looking at all the intelligence and making decisions, they risk assess every event that happens in this country, and that's something for the police."
She also underlined the government’s commitment to introducing 'Martyn's Law' to ensure threatened venues have suitable security arrangements to prevent an attack.
Martyn's Law is named after 2017 Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett, and is designed to help protect venues against terror attacks. It was part of the new Labour Government's first King's Speech.
In July, there was a fatal knife attack on three girls, aged six, seven and nine, at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, which sparked violent riots throughout the UK. Swift said she was "completely in shock" following the deaths at the children's event. 17-year-old suspect Axel Rudakubana has appeared in court charged with the crime.
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