Chemical Substances Discovered in Home of Taylor Swift Bomb Plot Suspect

August 8, 2024 TruthUSA

Chemical substances have been discovered after two individuals were arrested in connection with an alleged terrorist plot targeting Taylor Swift’s concert tour in Austria.

The home of a 19-year-old suspected of planning an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna was found to have chemical substances, as reported by a senior official with Austria’s interior ministry to the country’s state broadcaster.

Franz Ruf, the public security director, informed ORF on Thursday that two individuals, ages 19 and 17, were arrested earlier this week. Chemical substances and technical devices were discovered at a residence in Ternitz, located 20 miles south of Vienna.

Ruf stated that the older suspect had pledged allegiance to the current leader of the ISIS terrorist group on the internet.

The 17-year-old was apprehended in Vienna, and authorities confirmed that no other individuals were being sought in connection with the investigation.

Ruf revealed to ORF that there was still an abstract danger present in Vienna, stating “That’s why the terror warning level is also at the second highest level. It is estimated to be high.”

All three of the U.S. pop star’s concerts in Vienna were canceled on Wednesday after Austrian police began investigating a terrorist plot against them.

Taylor Swift, amidst a sold-out world tour, had been scheduled to perform at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Previously, the Austrian interior ministry had announced plans to enhance security in and around the stadium following the arrests.

However, event organizer Barracuda Music announced in an Instagram post late Wednesday, stating, “We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”

A large number of fans who had traveled from outside Austria for the concerts were left disappointed.

Chancellor Says Cancellation ‘Bitter Disappointment’

Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed his disappointment on the cancellation through a post on the social media platform X, stating that it is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria.

Nehammer, representing the Austrian People’s Party, thanked the emergency services for their swift investigation. He emphasized the threat of Islamist terrorism to security and freedom in Western countries and the importance of defending values like freedom and democracy.

“Many thanks to the emergency services who are currently investigating at full speed. We live in a time in which violent means are being used to attack our Western way of life,” he said, with his party facing an upcoming legislative election in September.

An estimated 170,000 fans were expected to attend the concerts, with Barracuda Music assuring, “All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.”

Swift’s Eras tour began in Arizona in March 2023 and is slated to end in Vancouver in December of this year, generating over $1 billion in ticket sales and becoming the highest-grossing tour in history.

The European leg of the tour started in May 2024, following last year’s shows in the United States and the Americas. After three concerts in Warsaw, the pop star was scheduled to perform in Austria before heading to London for five nights.

Regarding the potential cancellation of the London concerts, Britain’s policing minister, Diana Johnson, mentioned on LBC radio that decisions would be made based on the intelligence gathered by the police.

After the London shows, Swift is expected to take a break before concluding the tour with performances in Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Toronto, and Vancouver.

The Associated Press, PA Media, and Reuters contributed to this report.

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