VIENNA: Authorities in Austria have detained a third suspect in Vienna in connection to an alleged plot to attack Taylor Swift in a concert in Austrian capital, said the interior ministry on Friday.
It said the 18-year-old Iraqi citizen is said to have come from the same circle as the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian with roots in North Macedonia.
More suspects will be interrogated and properties searched as investigators continue to look into the plot, said the ministry.
The main suspect, who had pledged his loyalty to Daesh, was planning an assault among the estimated 20,000 “Swiftie” fans at a concert outside Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium.
The US popstar was set to perform in Vienna on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All three were canceled late Wednesday over security concerns after the incident.
Two other Austrian youths aged 17 and 15 were also detained by the police on Wednesday over the alleged plot. The 15-year-old has been released and is being treated as a witness in the case, Kurier newspaper reported on Friday.
The Iraqi suspect is reported to have pledged allegiance to Daesh on August 6, but it is not clear whether he had anything to do with the planned attack.
Austrian authorities are reported to have received some information about the Swift concert threat from US intelligence.
Swift, whose next scheduled performance is in London next week, has not commented on the cancelation of concerts. British police have said nothing indicates that the Vienna plot would have any effect on the show.
