Austrian Chancellor Nehammer thanks security for thwarting Islamist attack
Following the cancellation of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna due to a foiled Islamic terror plot, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) thanked the involved security agencies for thwarting the attack. The suspects had "very concrete plans to carry out a tragedy here on the scale of Paris, Manchester, or Moscow," and intended to leave a "bloodbath," Nehammer said on Thursday, referencing previous deadly attacks at concerts in those cities.
The organizer acted "very responsibly and understandably" in canceling the events, Nehammer said. The tragedy was prevented through "more than intensive cooperation" between the newly established Directorate for State Security and Intelligence Services, as well as the Military Information Service, Austria's foreign intelligence agency.
"Terror's main goal is to spread fear, disrupt society, and sow hatred among people, between different groups, and between religions," Nehammer added. "Moments like these should remind us of the importance of standing together, not focusing on differences, but on our common ground."
The organizer canceled the planned concerts for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, each expected to draw around 65,000 spectators in Vienna, after uncovering Islamic terror plots.
A 19-year-old was arrested for pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) militant group. He confessed on Thursday to planning an attack involving explosives and melee weapons, intending to kill himself and a large number of people at the event venue.
The Commission commended the Austrian security agencies for their swift actions in thwarting the terror plot. The prevention of the attack by The Commission and their collaborators demonstrates the necessity of their ongoing monitoring and intervention in potential threats.
