A third teenager has been apprehended in connection with a thwarted plan to attack Taylor Swift’s canceled concerts in Vienna, as stated by Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. The 18-year-old was taken into custody for allegedly being in communication with the primary suspect, which Karner revealed during an unrelated news conference on Friday. The attack, believed to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, involved the discovery of bomb-making materials at one of the suspects’ residences. One suspect admitted to intending to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”
The cancellation of the three sold-out concerts on Wednesday left Swift’s global fan base, known as Swifties, devastated, having spent substantial amounts on travel and accommodation in Vienna. The Eras Tour shows, scheduled at the Ernst Happel Stadium, did not take place, leaving the venue empty on Thursday morning. Concert organizers had anticipated up to 65,000 attendees at each concert, with an additional 30,000 fans outside where the suspects planned to carry out the attack anticipated for Thursday or Friday according to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
Europe’s fascination with the American pop star was evident when a German town temporarily renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” in anticipation of mid-July concerts. Following the cancellation, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer defended the decision, emphasizing that safety must come first, particularly given the arrests occurred so close to the scheduled shows.
Although London Mayor Sadiq Khan understood Vienna’s precautionary measure, he affirmed that London would proceed with the concerts, drawing on lessons learned from a previous attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017. The canceled shows in Vienna are part of Swift’s record-setting Eras Tour, which is set to conclude with performances at London’s Wembley Stadium in mid-August.
The main suspect, a 19-year-old, confessed to initiating the attack plan in July, pledging allegiance to the current Islamic State leader online. Authorities discovered chemical substances and technical devices during a raid at the suspect’s residence, indicating concrete preparatory actions. Islamic State and al-Qaida materials were also found at the home of a 17-year-old second suspect who had been recently employed at the concert venue.
While no additional suspects are being pursued, a 15-year-old in contact with both suspects was also questioned by authorities. Austria’s intelligence service collaborated with foreign counterparts to apprehend the suspects due to legal constraints preventing the monitoring of text messages domestically. Concert refunds and ticket reimbursements were announced for fans, by the organizers and Austrian rail operator OeBB, respectively.
Swift, yet to address the canceled shows publicly, expressed fear of large-scale violence at her concerts in prior interviews, citing past incidents at music events. Security measures and fan safety have always been a priority for the singer, who acknowledged the challenges posed by ensuring the well-being of her extensive fan base during live performances. Meanwhile, experts caution that all mass public events pose potential security threats in the current climate.
