2024-08-13 06:42:11
In Vienna, authorities foiled an attack on a Taylor Swift concert. You can find out what is known about the perpetrators and their plans here at t-online.
After it was announced on Wednesday that the authorities in Austria had apparently prevented an attack on one of Taylor Swift’s three concerts in Vienna, details about the suspects and their concrete plans are only slowly leaking out to the public.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) has expressly praised the cancellation of the three concerts. The organizer’s decision was “very responsible and understandable,” said Nehammer at a press conference. The suspects could have caused a great bloodbath with their means. Without the timely intervention of the investigators, “immeasurable damage” would have been threatened. Tens of thousands of fans of the US star were deprived of great joy by the Islamists. “I understand very well that the sadness is very great.”
t-online has compiled for you what is known so far.
According to police statements, the main suspect is a 19-year-old Austrian from the small town of Ternitz, not far from Vienna. The young man with North Macedonian roots is said to have become radicalized on the Internet and recently pledged allegiance to the “Islamic State” (IS). On July 25, he is said to have quit his job and said goodbye with the words: “I still have big plans.” He is said to have then tried to adapt his appearance to that of an IS fighter.
The police arrested him early on Wednesday morning in his parents’ house, where he was still living. According to the current state of the investigation, his parents had already been abroad for several days at that time. In an interview with the news portal “NÖN”, a neighbor described the family, who have lived in the town for almost four years, as quiet and inconspicuous. The 19-year-old made a full confession.
The police in Vienna also arrested a 17-year-old with Turkish-Croatian roots. He is also said to have become radicalized via the Internet. As the authorities announced at a press conference, the youth was already known to state security as a threat. They also announced that the 17-year-old had split up with his girlfriend a few days ago. He had also taken a job with the facility management company that had organized the Taylor Swift concerts. He has so far refused to make any statements.
In addition, a 15-year-old Austrian, whose parents come from Turkey, was taken into custody. When questioned, he explained that the 19-year-old had repeatedly talked about detonators and similar items that are important for making bombs. When asked what he planned to do with these things, the 19-year-old replied that he would find out soon enough. What exactly the 15-year-old’s role in the planned attack was is still unclear. According to current knowledge, all three are members of an Islamist network known to the investigating authorities.
According to the authorities, the 19-year-old confessed that he planned to kill as many people as possible during one of the three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, using both explosives and bladed weapons. He was mainly targeting the people outside the concert hall and had no plans to actually go into the concert hall. He did not have a ticket for one of the concerts. He also said that he did not care whether he himself died in the attack or not.
It is not clear at this point what role the 17-year-old, who would have had access to the interior due to his work for facility management, would have played in the plan. It is also still unclear whether the 15-year-old is a potential accomplice or just an accomplice.