Austria Attacks planned at Swift concert in Vienna: two arrests

Two people have been arrested in Austria on suspicion of terrorism. Among other things, they were planning attacks at the upcoming Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, said Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Austrian Ministry of the Interior. The concerts will take place on Thursday and Friday.

Chemical substances were seized from a 19-year-old Austrian. The police had evacuated houses and part of a retirement home as a precaution due to concerns about explosives.

Pledge of allegiance to IS

The young man had become radicalized on the Internet and had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization a few weeks ago, said Ruf.

According to the police, he was arrested in the morning in Ternitz, 75 kilometers southwest of Vienna. A second person was arrested in Vienna in the afternoon. The police gave no further details.

Increased checks will now be carried out at Taylor Swift concerts, announced Vienna's regional police chief Gerhard Pürstl.