Shocking detail in Taylor Swift terror attack plot revealed

A shocking detail has been revealed that demonstrates how dangerously close three teens came to carrying out a suspected terror attack at a Taylor Swift concert.

It’s been claimed that the suspected terrorists who plotted an attack on Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna, Austria this week had their friends hired as security for the event.

Three teenagers were arrested Wednesday in connection with the criminal conspiracy, including a 19-year-old male, who was detained in Ternitz, which is an hour outside Vienna where Swift was to host three back-to-back shows at Ernst Happel Stadium from Thursday night.

The man allegedly planned to drive a car into the some 20,000 fans who were expected to gather outside the huge stadium during the concert.

The Sun reports that his friends had infiltrated security at the event, where they were hired to help with set up and stewarding.

Some of Swift’s fans who travelled to Vienna for the now-cancelled shows have lashed out at the star. Picture: Getty Images for TAS Rights Management.

Authorities reportedly found various chemicals and other substances at a residence in Vienna after receiving a tip from foreign intelligence agencies.

A second person was arrested in the capital while authorities continued to hunt further suspects.

Swift’s ‘biggest fear’ was a terror plot

In the wake of Taylor Swift cancelling her shows, an interview has resurfaced in which she revealed such a scenario would be her “biggest fear”.

In an article for Elle in 2019, Swift shared her fears over the attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, UK, and revealed that she always carries “QuikClot army grade bandage dressing, which is for gunshot or stab wounds.”

“My biggest fear,” Swift wrote at the time, “After the Manchester Arena bombing and the Vegas concert shooting, I was completely terrified to go on tour this time because I didn’t know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months. There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe.”

“My fear of violence has continued into my personal life,” she said, adding that she carried “QuikClot army grade bandage dressing, which is for gunshot or stab wounds.”

Taylor Swift was planning to play three sold-out shows in Vienna, Austria from Thursday night. Picture: JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP

Stadium officials “had no choice” but to cancel shows

Organisers announced on Wednesday that they had made the decision to cancel all of Swift’s concerts, saying they were left with “no choice” but to pull the pin for safety reasons.

“With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” event organiser Barracuda Music said in a post on Instagram.

Franz Ruf, Austrian Director General for Public Safety, said authorities believed the suspects became radicalised online and pledged allegiance to the leader of IS in July.

“The suspected perpetrator was focused on the Taylor Swift concerts. Preparatory actions were detected,” Mr Ruf said.

Earlier, Vienna’s head of police Gerhard Pürstl warned an “abstract danger” remained despite the arrests, with 65,000 people expected to attend Swift’s shows per day, as well as 22,000 fans outside the venue.

Swift is yet to comment.

Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadion was the target of an ISIS terror plot, where Swift was hosting three shows. Picture: Christian Bruna/Getty Images

According to Kronen Zeitung, a local media outlet, police were planning for a boosted operation if Swift’s shows were to go ahead, including long guns, bomb squads and K-9 dogs being stationed to the area.

It comes one week after Swift’s fans were targeted in northwest England, where three young girls were killed after 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana allegedly went on a stabbing spree at a dance class held in honour of the Grammy winning artist.

A motive for Rudakubana’s murders has not yet been revealed.

Swift released a statement shortly after the incident, saying she was “completely in shock” over what happened.

Swift is embarking on the Europe leg of her Eras Tour. Picture: JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP

More than 65,000 fans were expected to attend her Vienna shows per day. Picture: Sergei GAPON/AFP

“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock,” Swift wrote in her statement, posted on her Instagram story.

“The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”

Swift is currently embarking on the Europe leg of her blockbuster Eras Tour, with Vienna marking her second-last stop before she hosts five sellout shows at London’s Wembley Stadium.

The singer will then take a two-month break, before concluding the tour in Canada from November.

Originally published as Shocking detail in Taylor Swift terror attack plot revealed