An 18-year-old Iraqi national has been detained in Vienna in connection with a suspected plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert.
According to CNN, the Austrian Interior Ministry made this announcement on Friday.
The individual is reportedly associated with the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian of North Macedonian descent, who had allegedly pledged loyalty to the Islamic State
The primary suspect was reportedly planning a deadly attack on the large crowd of “Swiftie” fans expected to gather at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium.
Taylor Swift was scheduled to perform on three consecutive days—Thursday, Friday, and Saturday—but all concerts were abruptly canceled late Wednesday due to security concerns.
The ministry mentioned that the main suspect, a radicalized youth with ties to IS, intended to carry out the attack among an estimated 20,000 concertgoers.
This revelation sparked widespread alarm and led to an immediate investigation by Austrian authorities.
Two additional Austrian teenagers, aged 17 and 15, were also detained on Wednesday in connection with the suspected plot
The arrests highlighted the seriousness of the threat and the swift response by law enforcement.
The 15-year-old detainee has since been released and is now being treated as a witness, according to a report by the Kurier newspaper on Friday.
This development indicates that the authorities are continuing to unravel the details of the alleged plot.
Further complicating the case, the Iraqi suspect reportedly swore allegiance to IS on August 6. However, it remains unclear whether he had any direct involvement in the planned attack, leaving investigators to determine the extent of his role.
As the investigation continues, the cancellation of Swift’s concerts has left her fans in shock, with many expressing relief that a potential tragedy was averted.
Austrian security forces remain vigilant as they work to ensure the safety of the public in light of this disturbing threat.
