Austrian authorities have thwarted an alleged ISIS-linked plot to target Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna.
Police arrested two suspects on Wednesday after raiding a home near Vienna. The suspects include a 19-year-old living with his parents and another individual. The raid uncovered various chemicals and substances, raising concerns about a potential attack.
The suspects reportedly planned to target Swift’s concerts at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, scheduled from Thursday to Saturday. The stadium is set to host sold-out crowds for the performances.
Franz Ruf, Austria’s Director General for Public Safety, confirmed that the plot was aimed at the Taylor Swift concerts and noted that preparatory actions had been identified.
“A concrete threat has been averted,” Ruf stated, though he emphasized that authorities have not declared the concerts entirely safe and continue investigating for possible accomplices.
The 19-year-old suspect, an Austrian national, is believed to have pledged allegiance to ISIS in July. Both suspects are thought to have been radicalized online. In response to the threat, concert security measures have been significantly heightened.
