Chemical substances have been found at the home of a 19-year-old Austrian suspected of planning an attack on upcoming Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna.
According to Franz Ruf, public security director at Austria’s Interior Ministry, two suspects have been arrested with investigators finding chemical substances and technical devices at the teenage suspect’s house.
The recovered items are now being evaluated as ‘concrete preparatory actions’ towards caring out an attack at The Eras Tour shows in the Austrian capital.
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A report from Reuters adds that the main suspect is a 19-year-old with North Macedonian roots and had been ‘working closely’ with a 17-year-old Austrian.
The Ernst-Happel Stadium in Vienna, where the concert was scheduled to take place. (Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images)
Ruf went on to add that the two males are part of a small group being investigated by police, adding that the suspect had recently uploaded an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group militia to an online account.
Reuters added that a report from Austrian newspaper Kurier stated the suspect hailed from the town of Ternitz and had stolen chemicals from his workplace.
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The report adds that he had planned to also drive a car into the crowd and had considered using machetes and knives in the attack.
The cancellations of the concerts devastated Swifties across the globe, many of whom had spent thousands of euros on travel and accommodation in Austria’s expensive capital city for the US singer’s sold-out Eras Tour shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
The update comes a day after it was revealed that Swift’s three Vienna dates of the sellout concert had been cancelled due to the alert.
Events organiser Barracuda confirmed the decision to cancel the concerts with a statement on Instagram, adding that fans would be able to get a refund on their tickets.
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The statement read: “With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.
“All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.”
Taylor Swift’s Vienna shows were cancelled. (homas Niedermueller/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Around 65,000 fans were expected to attend the concert each day, with a further 22,000 people expected to gather outside the stadium each day to listen to the music.
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Austrian Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler has since apologised to heartbroken fans on social media, writing on X: “For many, a dream has been shattered today. On three evenings in Vienna, tens of thousands of #Swifties should have celebrated life together.
“I am very sorry that you were denied this. Swifties stick together, hate and terror can’t destroy that.”
Featured Image Credit: Thomas Niedermueller/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images
Topics: Music, Taylor Swift, Celebrity, Crime
