Swift’s Vienna concerts were canceled after the government flagged a planned attack. (Representative)

Vienna:

Austria’s general director for public security said a 19-year-old Austrian terror suspect had taken concrete steps in planning an attack on Taylor Swift’s concert, with chemical substances found during a search of her residence.

The teenager, with North Macedonian roots, is considered the main suspect, working together with a 17-year-old Austrian, General Director of Public Security Franks Ruf told ORF radio.

The two men are part of a small group that police are looking for, Roof said, adding that the 19-year-old had pledged allegiance to the extremist Islamic State group.

“Certainly we’re investigating their broader environment,” Roof said, adding that the arrests have reduced the risk.

Swift’s three concerts in Vienna, which were expected to attract 195,000 people, were canceled late Wednesday after the government announced a planned attack. Police detained three people on suspicion of planning attacks on concerts.

Ruf said a search of the main suspect’s home in the town of Ternitz, near the Hungarian border, revealed “solid preparatory operations”, with chemical substances and technical equipment seized.

The Kurier newspaper, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that the suspect stole chemicals from his workplace and made the bomb.

The newspaper reported that the 19-year-old had planned to drive into the crowd outside the stadium, and had also considered using knives and machetes.

Austria’s interior ministry and intelligence service were not immediately available to comment on the details of the report.

(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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