Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts were cancelled following an alleged bomb plot [Getty]
A Taylor Swift concert in Vienna might not have been the original aim of an alleged Austrian Islamic State (IS) group supporter in a foiled bomb plot with the Israeli embassy among other targets reportedly initially considered by the suspects, a new report claims.
An alleged plot by 19-year-old Beran Aliji, the chief suspect in the case, to detonate explosives at Taylor Swift concert at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, part of the American pop star’s highly anticipated Eras Tour last summer, was foiled last August according to prosecutors, which the CIA claims was intended to kill thousands.
Investigators believe the three suspects, led by Aliji, originally planned to target the Israeli embassy, a Shia mosque, or Kurdish diplomats before choosing the gig where tens of thousands of ‘Swifties’ had gathered, according to The Washington Post.
Aliji allegedly had contacts working in logistical support at the stadium, but following a tip-off by intelligence, security officials ordered the gig cancelled after “preparatory actions” for a “possible attack” at the stadium were uncovered. Both foreign and domestic intelligence are believed to be involved in gathering evidence in the case.
“My operation is to take place at a big concert,” the suspect allegedly wrote in a text message seen by The Washington Post.
“I will try to get a gun and bombs. If that doesn’t work, I will use big knives. Or I will kill a police officer and take his rifle.”
Around 200,000 people were due to attend Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna, due to be held over three days, but were called off after fears of a suspected bomb plot emerged.
An Austrian report alleges that Aliji swore allegiance to IS weeks before choosing to target the stadium after watching videos linked to the extremist group.
While IS has been territorially defeated, the group has inspired individuals to carry out attacks on civilian targets, including pop concerts.
Aliji was reportedly inspired by the 2017 suicide bombing of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, UK, which killed 22 people, the youngest just eight years old.
Aliji’s lawyer told the newspaper that there were still “no official accusations, but only a working hypothesis of the public prosecutor’s office”.
