2024-08-07 18:00:35
The Vienna leg of the tour by American mega-star Taylor Swift has been canceled after Austrian police arrested a man in connection with an Islamist attack plot, organizers said Wednesday.
“With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel three scheduled shows for public safety,” Barracuda Music said on Instagram.
Austrian authorities said on Wednesday that they had arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly planning an Islamist attack in connection with concerts by US star Taylor Swift later this week.
He was detained in Lower Austria, about an hour from the capital, early Wednesday.
Chemical substances, said to be used in explosive devices, were found at his home and are being analyzed, police said.
The man, who had pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group “in recent weeks”, was detained early Wednesday, Austria’s security chief Franz Ruf told a press conference.
“We have established appropriate preparatory actions and the focus of the 19-year-old perpetrator is on Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna,” said Ruf.
A second person believed to have contacted the suspect was arrested in Vienna.
According to the initial investigation findings, both suspects played themselves on the internet.
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About 65,000 spectators are expected at each show scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Organizers said all concertgoers will be refunded their tickets.
In November 2020, a convicted IS terrorist went on a shooting rampage in downtown Vienna, killing four and injuring 23 others before being shot dead by police.
It marked the Alpine nation’s first deadly jihadist attack.
With a report by AFP
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