Austrian authorities have thwarted a terrorist plot targeting a Taylor Swift concert, according to the New York Post. Two suspects linked to ISIS were arrested, including a 19-year-old from Vienna.
Kronen Zeitung, an Austrian news outlet, reported that police raided the teen’s home, which he shared with his parents, and found various chemicals and substances. Investigators are currently determining if these materials could have been used to construct a bomb.
The suspects allegedly planned to attack Swift’s concerts at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, scheduled from Thursday to Saturday. These concerts are part of The Eras Tour and are sold out.
Austrian Director General for Public Safety Franz Ruf stated, “The suspected perpetrator was focused on the Taylor Swift concerts. Preparatory actions were detected. A concrete threat has been averted.”
Authorities reported that the suspects had detailed plans for carrying out the attack. Austria’s Cobra unit, equivalent to the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, assisted in the arrests. A police official confirmed that “the concrete danger has been minimized,” so there is no need to cancel the shows.
As a precaution, security will be heightened with heavy weapons teams, K-9 units, bomb squads, and tactical vehicles. Concertgoers can expect extensive visitor and vehicle checks, as reported by NBC News.