Taylor Swift concert terror suspect admits plan to kill ‘as many people as possible’, police say
The cancelled concerts were expected to draw 195,000 people to the Austrian capital
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of the teenagers arrested over a foiled terror plot at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna admitted he planned to kill “as many people as possible”, officials said.
The star was forced to cancel her upcoming shows after authorities in Austria detained two young men suspected of planning a major attack at one of her sold-out performances.
However, London mayor Sadiq Khan says Britain’s capital will “carry on” with planned gigs at Wembley next week.
The main suspect, a 19-year-old boy, had uploaded an oath of allegiance to the current leader of Isis online and is alleged to have been plotting alongside a 17-year-old who had begun working at the stadium days before.
Austria’s general director for public security, Franz Ruf, told ORF that chemical substances and technical devices, showing “concrete preparatory actions”, were found at the 19-year-old’s house in the town of Ternitz.
Both teenagers had become radicalised on the internet and had specific plans to carry out an attack, officials said, and investigators are now determining if the substances found could have been used to make an explosive.
Austrian security officials alleged the two young men wanted to commit an attack outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using knives or self-made explosives.
They said the 19-year-old was “clearly radicalised in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels”.
The second suspect was employed a few days ago by a facility company providing services at the venue during the concerts. Investigators said they found extensive material related to Isis and Al Qaeda at his home.
Swift’s performances, originally scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at Ernst Happel in Vienna, and expected to draw 195,000 people, were cancelled. The move comes after officials initially said the concerts were set to move forward with heightened security.
The cancellations devastated fans, many of whom had spent thousands of pounds on travel and hotels for the events, part of her Eras Tour.
Austria’s vice-chancellor Werner Kogler tweeted: “For many, a dream has been shattered today. On three evenings in Vienna, tens of thousands of Swifties should have celebrated life together.”
“I am very sorry that you were denied this. Swifties stick together, hate and terror can’t destroy that.”
Swift has not yet commented on the foiled plot, which comes just days after a mass stabbing at a Swift-themed children’s dance class in Southport, England.
Policing minister Diana Johnson said Scotland Yard will look at “all the intelligence” ahead of Swift’s five dates at London’s Wembley between Thursday 15 August and Tuesday 10 August.
Mr Khan said London is “looking forward to welcoming Taylor Swift back” as the capital is “an international city” that regularly hosts major events. “We have a huge amount of experience in policing these events, we’re never complacent, many lessons were learned after the awful Manchester Arena attack,” he said.
“The police work closely, not just with City Hall, but with councils, but also with those who host concerts, like the Taylor Swift concert coming up over the next couple of weeks.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “London plays host to a significant number of very high-profile events each year with millions of visitors having a safe and enjoyable experience.
“The Met works closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure there are appropriate security and policing plans in place. There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London. As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review.”