Taylor Swift concerts canceled: What we know about the two suspects arrested in connection with an Islamist attack plot

Two people who were planning Islamist attacks in links to Taylor Swift concerts have been arrested by Austrian police. Three concerts of the international star have been cancelled.

All three concerts by American singer Taylor Swift scheduled for Vienna this week have been cancelled, organisers announced on Wednesday evening. The cause was a planned Islamist terrorist attack targeting the Ernst Happel stadium, where the international star was due to perform. Two people have so far been arrested and an investigation is underway. “The level of terrorist alert in Austria remains high and is being continually “evaluated”, the organisation said quickly. the Vienna State Police Directorate.

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He had “sworn loyalty” to the terrorist group Islamic State

On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, Austrian police arrested two individuals. The first is a 19-year-old Austrian citizen who was planning Islamist attacks. He was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna. According to the local Interior Ministry, he had “sworn allegiance” to the terrorist group Islamic State on the internet and chemical substances were found in his apartment during a search.”

A second suspect, also “radicalized on the internet”

“We have discovered preparatory acts with a focus on Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna,” explained the Director General of Public Security, Franz Ruf, during a press conference. The Austrian citizen who pledged allegiance to Daesh was in contact with a second person, also “radicalized on the internet”. This second person was arrested in Vienna, but no further details have yet been released about him. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer praised the “intensive cooperation of our police and the new DSN (Austrian intelligence service) with the foreign services” on Wednesday evening. He also called for “remaining vigilant, standing together and taking decisive measures against Islamism”.