Two arrests in Vienna, they wanted to attack Taylor Swift’s show. Concerts canceled – News – Ansa.it

Two arrests and a possible tragic murder escaped. In Vienna the local authorities stopped a sensational terrorist plan in its tracks: to attack the concerts of the most famous singer in the world, Taylor Swift. Their three concerts in the Austrian capital this evening were canceled as a precaution by the organizers. The American star, who was on tour in Europe a few weeks ago, was supposed to play at the Ernst-Happel stadium in the Austrian capital on August 8, 9 and 10.

Three dates, not one, were scheduled to allow tens of thousands of fans to attend the concerts. But the party could have turned into a terrible murder. The two who were stopped by the police within a few hours planned to attack one of the three nights in which the show is scheduled. The first arrest was made in the morning, in a small town an hour away from Vienna, Ternitz. The terrorist suspect is a nineteen-year resident of Lower Austria, and his identity has not been released but it has been revealed that he has pledged allegiance to ISIS. The Director General of Public Security at the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, Franz Ruf, explained in a press conference that the investigations had found “preparatory activities” for an attack by the 19-year-old.

With a blitz the police appeared at his house, evacuating several nearby houses and closing the streets. the police then arrested the young man and found and seized suspicious “chemical substances”. According to the investigation, the man had become radicalized on the Internet. The second suspect was arrested this afternoon in Vienna and according to local media he is 17 years old although the authorities did not provide further information. According to some Austrian newspapers – but local authorities have not confirmed the news – three other suspected attackers are on the run, who are also involved in planning an attack on a stadium Ernst-Happel. The head of the Austrian Police, Gerhard Pürstl, explained that a serious risk had been avoided, but that security measures for the three Taylor Swift concerts and other events scheduled for the weekend in Vienna had been strengthened. Then it was announced that all three dates were cancelled. “When we received confirmation from government officials about the plan for a terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel stadium, we had no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” wrote Barracuda Music on Instagram, adding those fans – estimated to be at least 65 thousand – will have their tickets refunded.