[ad_1]
American singer Taylor Swift performs as part of her “Times Tour” at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, northwest France, May 9, 2024. The American superstar’s three shows in Vienna will be cancelled following the arrest of a man in Austria linked to an Islamist attack plot, organizers said on August 8, 2024. (AFP)
Vienna – Trip to Vienna American superstar Taylor Swift on tour Organizers said on Wednesday the event had been cancelled following the arrest of a man in Austria in connection with an Islamist attack plot.
The move comes after authorities arrested a 19-year-old Islamic State (IS) sympathiser on suspicion of planning Islamist attacks in the Vienna area, warning that the sympathiser was “focusing” on three of Swift’s upcoming shows.
“With government officials confirming a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel our three scheduled shows to ensure everyone’s safety,” Barracuda Music said on Instagram.
Organizers also said all patrons scheduled to attend the concerts, which are expected to draw about 65,000 people each on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, would be refunded.
Austria’s top security chief Franz Ruf told a news conference that the man, who pledged allegiance to Islamic State “in recent weeks,” was detained early Wednesday in the state of Lower Austria, about an hour’s drive from the capital.
“We have made the necessary preparations, and the 19-year-old suspect’s target was Taylor Swift’s concert in Vienna,” said Roof.
He said police seized chemical substances at the suspect’s home.
Another person believed to have had contact with the suspect was arrested in Vienna.
According to preliminary investigations, both suspects conducted extremist activities through the Internet.
In November 2020, a convicted Islamic State sympathizer went on a shooting spree in central Vienna, killing four people and injuring 23 before he was shot dead by police.
It was the first deadly jihadist attack in the Alpine country.
Unable to save your subscription. Please try again.
Your subscription was successful.
[ad_2]
Source link
