Fallout from cancelled Taylor Swift concerts as shocking terror plot revealed

The teenager who allegedly planned a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert intended to drive into the crowd of young fans before detonating a suicide vest, officials said.

The 19-year-old Islamic State fanatic, identified as Beran A, is said to have obtained a blue flashing light and siren that could have enabled him to drive up to the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna.

The vehicle would be used to run over concert-goers before he emerged to attack them with knives and machetes and then trigger the bomb, potentially killing scores more, according to Austrian media.

The atrocity was allegedly planned for 4pm, when around 65,000 Swifties were due in the area, along with 30,000 who hadn’t secured tickets.

The US star’s fans are renowned for gathering outside her concerts when they don’t have seats. Last week, 40,000 congregated on hills near the Munich Olympic Stadium in Germany. Ms Swift’s three concerts – last night, today and tomorrow – in Vienna have now been cancelled.

News of the plot has prompted scores of worried British fans to try to sell their tickets for five concerts at Wembley Stadium from August 15 to 20. Beran A, whose parents emigrated from North Macedonia to Austria, was arrested at his home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, on Wednesday following a tip-off from US intelligence services last month.

A 17-year-old was detained outside the concert venue later the same day. He is believed to have Austrian citizenship but has Turkish and Croatian roots. It was reported that the younger teenager had recently taken a job at the stadium, potentially facilitating the attack.

Ternitz residents described Beran A as a ‘harmless boy next door’ who went to a local school and wore jeans and trainers – until recently.

But he changed last month, allegedly pledging allegiance to terror group Islamic State and growing a long beard.

A disturbing image shows him wielding huge zombie knives and an IS flag.

One local, who gave her name as Mara, said she last saw him on Tuesday, adding: ‘He looked like how you would imagine a sleeper agent for a terrorist cell.’

Bomb experts who searched his house seized ‘technical equipment’ and chemicals which can be used to produce the sort of explosives previously used by IS.

Director-general for public safety Franz Ruf told journalists: ‘A clear threat has been averted.’

Beran A is said to have stolen the chemicals from a stainless steel plant in Ternitz where he worked with his father, until he quit two weeks ago.

His parents and sister have been on holiday in North Macedonia and are expected to be questioned on their return. Beran A, who also had blank ammunition and 21,000 Euros (£18,000) in cash, confessed to his plans to ‘kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue’, security officials said.

He uploaded an oath of allegiance to the leader of IS in July, along with a video admitting responsibility for the bomb plot.

Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, Austria’s security chief, said Beran A was ‘clearly radicalised in the direction of IS and thinks it is right to kill “infidels”.’

Material relating to IS and Al Qaeda was found with the second suspect. A 15-year-old Austrian of Turkish heritage who had been in contact with both suspects is also being questioned.

Around 195,000 fans were due to attend the three concerts in Vienna.

All have now been cancelled and the promoter has offered full refunds. British band Coldplay are to play four shows in the city later this month.

It is not clear if these will go ahead.

Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer wrote on X: ‘Violent means are being used to attack our Western way of life.’

British policing minister Diana Johnson said Scotland Yard would be looking at ‘all the intelligence’ before Ms Swift’s five concerts in Wembley Stadium next week.

However, as of Thursday night, resale ticket site Viagogo had 839 two seated tickets on sale for between £400 to £600.

Other fans asked Wembley, which seats 90,000, to reschedule the events.

‘If shows won’t be re-scheduled, security better be 200x stricter than before please, we can’t let anyone get hurt,’ one said.

Another said: ‘I hope the Wembley shows are cancelled. I want to see the shows so much but I’m scared.’

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the capital will ‘carry on’ with hosting Ms Swift’s shows. He told Sky News: ‘We are an international city, we regularly host major events – we’re looking forward to welcoming Taylor Swift back.’