A 19-year-old Austrian, with roots in North Macedonia, was arrested for planning an attack on Taylor Swift fans at a concert in Vienna.
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Authorities revealed on Thursday that the suspect had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS).
The young man, whose name hasn’t been shared, confessed in custody. He planned to target fans with a bomb or knife during one of Swift’s concerts. These events were part of her hugely popular Eras Tour, set to take place in Vienna. The suspect had gathered chemicals and tools at his home in Ternitz, Austria, to prepare for the attack.
Franz Ruf, Austria’s head of public security, confirmed the suspect’s loyalty to ISIS. National intelligence head Omar Haijawi-Pirchner said the attack aimed to harm the estimated 20,000 fans, known as “Swifties,” outside the stadium.
Two other Austrian teenagers, aged 17 and 15, were also arrested in connection with the plot. Swift’s three sold-out concerts, which were set to start on Thursday, were canceled to keep fans safe. This decision left many fans upset, with some having traveled long distances to attend.
U.S. intelligence agencies warned Austrian authorities about the threat. The suspect reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS-K, a group within ISIS, on Telegram in June. Although the plot was inspired by ISIS, it wasn’t directly planned by the group.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner praised the teamwork with foreign intelligence agencies. He also urged fans of Coldplay, set to perform at the same venue in August, to stay calm.
While British police assured there was no threat to Swift’s upcoming London concerts, the foiled plot served as a reminder of past attacks at large concerts. Despite the disappointment, many fans planned to make the most of their time in Vienna by visiting museums and attending Swiftie-organized events.
