Vienna: An 18-year-old Iraqi national has been detained in Vienna as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in the Austrian capital, according to Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner.
The detained individual is reportedly linked to the same group as the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots. “The Iraqi suspect swore allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group on Aug. 6, but it remains unclear whether he had a direct link to the planned attack,” Minister Karner stated.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, with more suspects expected to be questioned and additional properties searched. The alleged plot has raised significant concerns, particularly as the main suspect, who had also pledged loyalty to IS, was planning a “lethal assault among the estimated 20,000 ‘Swiftie’ fans set to gather outside Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium.”
Due to the potential threat, all three scheduled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna were canceled as a precautionary measure. The 19-year-old suspect had quit his job just weeks before the planned attack, stating he “had big plans,” and has since made a full confession while in custody.
Authorities are also questioning a 17-year-old who had been employed by a company providing services at the stadium. This individual, who appears to have been radicalized, has thus far refused to cooperate with the investigation. Additionally, a 15-year-old connected to the group is being “questioned intensively by police.”
The Austrian authorities reportedly received a tip-off about the planned attack from U.S. intelligence services, as Austrian law prohibits the monitoring of instant messaging apps, which the suspects used to communicate. “Cooperation with foreign partners and services is essential and reciprocal. This made it possible to prevent a tragedy in Vienna,” Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer emphasized.
Taylor Swift, whose next scheduled performance is in London next week, has not yet commented on the Vienna concert cancellations. British police have assured the public that “there is nothing to indicate that the Vienna plot would have any effect on the London show.”
The incident highlights the ongoing global threat posed by extremist groups and underscores the importance of international cooperation in preventing such attacks.
(With Agency Inputs)
Iraqi National Detained in Connection with Alleged Plot to Attack Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna world-news World News | Latest International News | Global World News | World News Today
