Taylor Swift concert in Vienna: police foil Islamist attack plan, two people arrested

Les mesures policières vont être renforcées dans les prochains jours. MAXPPP – ANTONI BYSZEWSKI/FOTONEWS

Police announced on Wednesday the arrest of two people in Austria, including a 19-year-old man who was planning Islamist attacks, particularly in connection with the concerts of American star Taylor Swift scheduled for this week in Vienna.

An Austrian citizen, who had "pledged allegiance" to the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), was arrested following a special operation in Lower Austria, an hour from the capital, the Director General of Public Security, Franz Ruf, declared at a press conference.

"We have discovered preparatory acts with a focus on Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna", he added, specifying that "chemical substances" had been "seized" at the suspect's home.

The young man was in collusion with another person, also "radicalized on the internet" who was arrested in Vienna, Mr Ruf stressed, without giving further details.

65,000 spectators expected each evening

Police measures will be reinforced in the coming days, particularly at the entrance to the concerts of the megastar who is performing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Austrian capital, with 65,000 spectators expected each evening.

"The concrete risk has been ruled out for the time being, but with the diffuse danger increasing, we must take the necessary measures and activate our special units for the concerts", a said Vienna police chief Gerhard Pürstl.

Austria has beefed up its preventive measures since a jihadist attack on November 2, 2020, which left four dead, the first to hit this usually very safe country of 9.1 million people.