Teenager from Iraq detained in Vienna following Taylor Swift attack plan disruption

Austria’s interior minister said on Friday that an 18-year-old Iraqi national has been arrested in Vienna as part of investigations into a possible conspiracy to assault a Taylor Swift performance in the country’s capital.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated that the primary suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian ancestry, and the Iraqi are from the same circle.

The Iraqi suspect pledged loyalty to the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) on August 6, but it’s still unclear if he was directly involved in the plot, according to Karner.

As authorities continue to probe the conspiracy, he said, more individuals will be questioned and homes investigated.

The primary suspect, who had also pledged allegiance to IS, was preparing a deadly attack on the 20,000 or so “Swiftie” fans that were expected to congregate outside Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium. For this reason, security concerns forced the cancelation of all three performances.

Authorities said the 19-year-old, who resigned from his job less than two weeks before to the assault, “had big plans,” has given a complete confession while being held.

Due to the purported conspiracy, two more Austrian adolescents, ages 17 and 15, were placed under arrest on Wednesday.

Karner claims that the 17-year-old, who was hired by a firm that provided services at the stadium, has declined to provide any testimony thus far.

Authorities were previously aware of the child, who also seemed to have become radicalized.

Police are still questioning the 15-year-old extensively, Karner continued.

Since Austrian law forbids the surveillance of instant messaging applications, which the suspects had been using to communicate, it is believed that U.S. intelligence provided information to Austrian police regarding the Swift concert threat.

“Reciprocal and necessary cooperation is required with overseas partners and services. This allowed for the averting of a disaster in Vienna,” stated Chancellor Karl Nehammer of Austria.

Swift has not responded to the concert cancellations; her next scheduled engagement is in London the following week.

Nothing suggests that the Vienna plot would have any bearing on the London production, according to British authorities.