Iraqi teen detained in Austria after Taylor Swift attack plot foiled

An 18-year-old Iraqi national was detained in Vienna in connection with investigations into an alleged plot to strike a Taylor Swift concert in the Austrian capital, the Ministry of the Interior said today according to Reuters.

The Iraqi national is said to have come from the same circle as the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots, according to the ministry.

The head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, said the main suspect was “clearly radicalised in the direction of the Islamic State [Daesh] and thinks it is right to kill infidels.”

A second suspect, said to be a 17-year-old Austrian citizen with a Turkish and Croatian background, had started a job at the concert venue days before the Taylor Swift shows were cancelled over the terror threat, according to officials. He was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.

Swift, 34, has not yet commented on the cancellation of her concerts which were due to be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week. Austrian media said there were no plans for the shows to be held at a later date and fans would receive a refund for their tickets.

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