The full horror of the terror attack two radicalised teens aged 17 and 19 planned to launch at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria has been revealed. The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, Wednesday morning while a second teen, aged 17, was detained in the Austrian capital in the afternoon, according to director-general for public safety Franz Ruf.
The popstar, 34, was due to perform in front of an estimated 170,000 fans on August 8, 9, and 10 at Vienna’s Ernst-Happel-Stadion, which was set to be reinforced with more security measures before the three shows were cancelled last night. The suspects – who allegedly radicalised themselves online – took ‘preparatory actions’ for an attack – with the 19-year-old ‘focused’ on Swift’s Vienna concert, Ruf confirmed.
The 19-year-old suspect had quit his job and announced that he had ‘big plans’ on July 25, Ruf (pictured right) revealed at a press conference today, adding that the teen also ‘significantly changed his appearance’ and that the 17-year-old had recently broken up with his girlfriend. ‘There has been a clear social change,’ Ruf added. Austrian media reported the suspects’ plans included driving a car into groups of Swifties expected to gather outside the venue before attacking with machetes and knives. They had reportedly planned to launch their attack today.
