Taylor Swift's Austrian Concerts Canceled After Authorities Thwart Alleged Terror Attack Plot
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Taylor Swift’s sold-out shows in Vienna, Austria scheduled for Thursday through Saturday were canceled after authorities say they foiled a planned terror attack.
The Suspects: The primary suspect, a 19-year-old man, confessed to police his plans to execute a suicide attack outside the stadium. Authorities also detained two teenage suspects in connection with the plot. The main suspect pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. There’s no evidence ISIS directed the plot. Police said the suspects were “radicalized by the internet.” They found explosive devices, detonators, chemicals, ISIS propaganda and other weapons at the primary suspect’s home.
For Context: Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said concerts are frequently targeted for terror attacks. Concert organizers expected 65,000 people to attend each of the three shows and up to 30,000 people to gather outside of the stadium each night.
How The Media Covered It: Several sources across the spectrum noted that the suspects are Austrian citizens, but the primary suspect’s parents are from North Macedonia and one of the others has Turkish or Croatian heritage. Breitbart (Right bias) described the suspects as “migrant-heritage teenagers” and noted that the primary suspect “recently adopted a new name of ‘Mo’ — Mohammed — while changing his appearance to take on a more stereotypically Islamist mien.” Sources on the left and center followed the Austrian government’s policy to not share suspects’ names unless they are convicted. Sources on the right, including Breitbart, The Daily Mail (Right) and The Telegraph (Lean Right) reported the primary suspect’s first name.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Narrowly Averted: Taylor Swift Terror Plotter Pictured, Confesses to Officers in Interrogation![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-right.png)
The prime suspect in bomb plot to kill Taylor Swift fans at a concert in Vienna “today or tomorrow” has been revealed, and has made a full confession to police, the Austrian state says.
Two migrant-heritage teenagers are in custody in Austria after a series of Taylor Swift concerts at a Vienna city stadium were cancelled at the last moment, having been meant to have gone ahead tonight and the next two nights. Some 60,000 ticket holders and up to 200,000 fans in total were expected to attend over the...
From the Left
Taylor Swift shows in Vienna canceled over alleged planned terrorist attack![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
CNN — Organizers have canceled three Taylor Swift concerts in Austria after authorities said they foiled a terror attack planned for the Vienna leg of her blockbuster Eras tour.
The extraordinary decision – which could come at significant cost to Vienna’s businesses – has devastated fans and renewed focus on the vulnerability of huge concerts as soft targets for terror networks and spree killers.
From the Center
Teen planned 'explosives and knives' attack at Swift concert![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/Screen%20Shot%202024-08-08%20at%203.44.40%20PM.png?itok=wdHTK-8o)
Austrian security officials say a 19-year-old arrested on Wednesday was planning to kill "a large crowd of people" in a suicide attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.
Officials say the teen - who had previously pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group (IS) - confessed that he "intended to carry out an attack using explosives and knives".
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