After the attempted bombing of Taylor Swift's concert in Vienna, another suspect has been arrested.
Meanwhile, the two suspects arrested on Wednesday have been remanded in custody, as reported by APA. The 19-year-old alleged mastermind confessed that he had planned to drive his car into a crowd of Taylor Swift fans outside the Ernst-Happel Stadium in Vienna on Thursday or Friday. He reportedly targeted fans who couldn't get tickets and were waiting outside the stadium.
Previously, Austrian security authorities stated that the Austrian man of North Macedonian descent had expressed intentions to kill a large number of people in a suicide bombing attack. He had planned an attack using explosives and sharp weapons.
The 19-year-old and a 17-year-old are currently in custody at Wiener Neustadt prison. They are being investigated for suspected links to IS for terrorist organization and criminal association.
The 17-year-old alleged accomplice with Turkish-Croatian roots continues to refuse to make a statement. He was previously known to the Austrian state security and had been employed by a company responsible for services within the Ernst-Happel Stadium for a few days. A 15-year-old is not considered a suspect and was only questioned as a witness.
According to Austria's intelligence chief Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the 17-year-old worked for a company that was supposed to provide drinks and food during the Taylor Swift concert on Thursday. IS militia materials and Al-Qaeda network materials were found with him.
On Wednesday, the organizer of the planned Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna from Thursday to Saturday canceled all three performances in the Austrian capital after the arrests became known. Interior Minister Karner said a "tragedy" had been prevented, confirming the "terrorist threat for the whole of Europe." Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) also spoke of an ongoing high terrorist threat in Europe, and thus also in Germany.
The two individuals in custody are being investigated for suspected links to IS for terrorist organization and criminal association. Despite repeated questioning, the 17-year-old alleged accomplice continues to maintain his silence, raising suspicions about his role in the suspected plot.
