Taylor Swift concert canceled: Explosives, chemicals found in teen’s home

Haijawi-Pirchner told a news conference on Thursday that the suspect was planning a suicide attack with knives and explosives that would kill “as many people as possible” at the concert.

Officials said they found explosives, detonators and chemicals in the 19-year-old’s home and that he had researched bomb-making techniques.

The young man was “clearly radicalized” by Islamic State and pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization’s leader, Haijawai-Pirchner said.

He is cooperating with authorities and is fully admitted to the plot, Haijawi-Pirchner added.

Franz Ruf, director general for public safety in the Interior Ministry, said the suspect planned the July attack and has roots in North Macedonia.

The other two teenagers arrested were a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old. The 17-year-old refused to speak to authorities, who found Islamic State and Al-Qaeda propaganda in his home.

The Austrian national, who has Turkish and Croatian roots, worked for a facilities company that was contracted to provide services at the concert venue. Authorities have not said what those services are.

Officials said he had just broken up with his girlfriend and was arrested outside the concert stadium.

Neither the 19-year-old nor the 17-year-old had tickets to the shows, authorities added.

Little information was provided about the 15-year-old, who authorities said was also being questioned by police.

Ruf said the three suspects were in contact with other people who knew about the planned attack, but that authorities were not looking for other suspects.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said foreign intelligence agencies helped uncover the plot, which prompted concert organizers to cancel Wednesday’s Eras Tour shows.

Some stunned fans had already arrived from other continents for the concerts scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Instead of the concert, dozens of fans gathered near the venue on Thursday to sing Swift’s songs as police looked on.

Ewald Tatar, head of concert organizer Barracuda Music, told a news conference that the shows were canceled for the safety of concertgoers and those outside the stadium.

Tatar expected crowds of up to 15,000 people to gather in the hours before the shows began, which would swell to nearly 100,000 inside and outside the stadium before Swift took the stage.

“I have to say that despite everything, I’m very happy with this decision,” Tatar told reporters, saying management made the “correct” choice.

Barracuda Music said all tickets will be refunded within 10 days.

Europe has been on high alert for ISIS attacks on pop concerts after several mass attacks by the group, including a bombing in Manchester that killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017.