An Austrian teenager arrested over an alleged plot to strike a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna had built explosive devices for his attack and had pledged loyalty to so-called Islamic State, authorities have said.
The 19-year-old man, who has North Macedonian roots, made a full confession in custody, Austria's general director for public security Franz Ruf told a news conference.
He swore allegiance to the IS group's leader on the internet and had chemicals, machetes, and technical devices at his home in the town of Ternitz in preparation for an attack, Mr Ruf added.
The suspect, whose name was not given, was planning a lethal assault among the estimated 20,000 "Swiftie" fans set to gather outside Ernst Happel Stadium, national intelligence head Omar Haijawi-Pirchner said.
"He wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made," he said, adding there were no explicit threats to other concerts.
Two other Austrian youths aged 17 and 15 were also detained over the foiled plot.
Authorities painted a picture of the main suspect as having self-radicalised, transforming his appearance and sharing Islamist propaganda online.
He quit his job on 25 July, telling people he had "big plans", Mr Ruf said.
One neighbour told Austrian broadcaster Puls24 that he kept himself to himself and had grown a "Taliban beard".
Taylor Swift's three concerts in Vienna, due to start today for a sold out 65,000 audience each, were cancelled, to the consternation of fans, many of whom had travelled far.
One Irish fan who had travelled to Vienna with her boyfriend said she was "actually gutted" that the gigs have been cancelled.
Jess Spencer explained how the concert was something she and her partner "were looking forward to for a year" and admits finding out the gigs had been axed "for the worst reason is gutting".
US broadcaster ABC cited law enforcement and intelligence sources as saying Austrian authorities had received information about the Swift concert threat from US intelligence.
It cited the sources as saying at least one of the suspects had pledged allegiance to ISIS-K, a resurgent wing of IS, on Telegram in June, though the plot was IS-inspired rather than directed by the group's operatives.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said foreign intelligence agencies had helped with the investigation, as Austrian law does not allow monitoring of messenger apps.
Event organiser Live Nation urged fans of Coldplay, who are due to play at the same stadium on 21 August, to stay calm and said it was in contact with authorities.
It did not comment on whether the show would take place.
"Concerts are often a preferred target of Islamist attackers, large concerts," said Mr Karner, listing the 2015 attack on Paris' Bataclan venue and the 2017 bombing at the Manchester Arena where US pop star Ariana Grande had played.
The plot in Austria also brought to mind a foiled plan by three IS-linked suspects against Vienna's gay pride parade last year.
IS was largely crushed by a US-led coalition several years ago after establishing a "caliphate" in large areas of Iraq and Syria, but has still managed some major attacks while seeking to rebuild and reinvent itself.
Austrian authorities have revamped their national security intelligence in the wake of a 2020 attack by a convicted jihadist in the centre of Vienna that left four dead, the first such militant attack in the Austrian capital in a generation.
This week's shows were to be part of the record-breaking Eras Tour by the American singer-songwriter which started on 17 March 2023, in Glendale, Arizona, US, and is set to conclude on 8 December 2024, in Vancouver, Canada.
Taylor Swift, 34, has not yet commented on the cancellations on her official Instagram account which has 283 million followers.
Her fans were shocked at the threat, with some asking organisers to postpone the concert instead of cancelling it outright. Promoters have said they will pay back tickets.
London will 'carry on' with Wembley concerts
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the UK's capital will "carry on" with hosting Taylor Swift concerts at Wembley this month.
Earlier, policing minister Diana Johnson said Scotland Yard will look at "all the intelligence" ahead of Swift's five dates at Wembley Stadium between Thursday 15 August and Tuesday 20 August.
Mr Khan told Sky News that London is "looking forward to welcoming Taylor Swift back" as the capital is "an international city" that regularly hosts major events.
He added: "We have a huge amount of experience in policing these events, we're never complacent, many lessons were learned after the awful Manchester Arena attack.
"The police work closely, not just with City Hall, but with councils, but also with those who host concerts, like the Taylor Swift concert coming up over the next couple of weeks.
"I'm sure Vienna has got its own reasons to cancel the Taylor Swift concerts, we're going to carry on, working closely with police (and) ensuring that the Taylor Swift concerts can take place in London safely."
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