Third teen arrested over foiled attack at Swift concert

In a shocking turn of events, Austrian authorities have arrested a 19-year-old man who was allegedly plotting a deadly attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The concert was highly anticipated, with over 195,000 fans expected to attend the three sold-out shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium. The young man, who had previously expressed allegiance to the Islamic State group, reportedly confessed to his intentions of carrying out a suicide attack using explosives and knives. This alarming news has raised serious concerns about security at large public events. The police have confirmed that the 19-year-old was not acting alone; he was one of three suspects arrested in connection with the plot. On Wednesday, authorities apprehended the main suspect, and a day later, an 18-year-old acquaintance was also taken into custody. A 17-year-old, who is believed to have ties to the main suspect, was arrested as well. The police revealed that the 19-year-old had stolen chemicals from his workplace, a metal processing company in Ternitz, and had made significant progress in constructing a bomb. Reports indicate that he had plans to drive a vehicle into the crowd gathered outside the stadium, which would have resulted in a catastrophic situation. During a press conference, security officials did not disclose the source of the chemicals but confirmed that they found various chemical substances and technical devices at the suspect's residence, indicating that he was preparing for a serious attack. The head of Austria's Directorate for Protection of the State and Intelligence stated that weapons were also seized from the suspect's home, and it was clear that his goal was to inflict mass casualties at the concert. The suspect had even posted a video online, admitting to his plot and expressing his desire to carry out the attack. He had quit his job just a few weeks prior and had been telling people about his 'big plans. ' This situation has raised alarms about the increasing threat of terrorism in Europe, particularly at major events that attract large crowds. The main suspect, an Austrian citizen of North Macedonian descent, had recently altered his appearance to align with Islamic State propaganda and had been actively consuming and sharing extremist content online. The second suspect, a 17-year-old of Turkish or Croatian heritage, was employed at a company that was set to provide services at the concert venue. Both the 19-year-old and the 17-year-old are now in custody, while a 15-year-old who was in the vicinity of the stadium during the investigation is being questioned. Despite officials stating that they were not searching for additional suspects, an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen was arrested later in the evening, also believed to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. The Interior Minister of Austria emphasized that a tragedy was averted thanks to international intelligence cooperation, as Austrian law does not permit the censorship of messaging applications. He noted that the terrorist threat has intensified across Europe, and Austria is no exception. Major concerts are often seen as prime targets for Islamist attackers. As Taylor Swift's concerts were part of her European Eras Tour, which began in Paris, the police are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of attendees. Swift is set to perform in London next week, and UK authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that her shows at Wembley Stadium proceed without incident. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has assured the public that the city will continue with its events while working closely with law enforcement to maintain safety.