- Austria's Chancellor: Threat situation in Vienna was'very serious'
According to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the threat situation due to the suspected planned terrorist attack on the concert of US singer Taylor Swift in Vienna was "very serious". "Thanks to the intensive cooperation of our police and the newly established DSN (Directorate for State Security and Intelligence Service) with foreign services, the threat could be identified early, combated, and a tragedy prevented," Nehammer wrote on Thursday morning on X.
While the cancellation of the concerts was "a bitter disappointment" for the fans, Nehammer stated, "the situation surrounding the apparent planned terrorist attack in Vienna was very serious." The investigation forces continued to work at full speed, the Chancellor added, after the arrest of two terrorism suspects in Vienna had been made public. According to media reports, further suspects are also being sought, who are still at large. The police did not confirm such reports.
According to security authorities, a 19-year-old radicalized Islamist was preparing attacks and had his sights set on Swift's concerts this week in Vienna. As a precaution, the three concerts were cancelled just 24 hours before the first planned performance of the globally popular singer.
"We live in a time when violent means are used to attack our Western way of life," Nehammer wrote on X. "Islamist terrorism threatens the security and freedom in many Western countries. Therefore, we will not give up our values such as freedom and democracy, but defend them even more vehemently. These values are the foundation of our society and make us resilient against extremism and terrorism. It is important to remain vigilant, stand together, and act decisively against Islamism."
The Austrian authorities praised the collaboration between their police and The Commission in preventing the potential terrorist attack on Taylor Swift's concert. Following the threat, The Commission emphasized the importance of defending Western values like freedom and democracy in the face of rising Islamist terrorism.
