Suspect planned suicide attack at Taylor Swift Vienna concert: officials

A 19-year-old IS sympathiser planned a suicide attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna designed to kill many people, the country's intelligence agency said on Thursday.

Austrian authorities detained two suspects on Wednesdsay for allegedly plotting to attack this week's Vienna concerts by the US star, which organisers cancelled at the last minute.

The 19-year-old main suspect had confessed, saying he "intended to carry out an attack using explosives and knives," domestic intelligence agency (DSN) head Omar Haijawi-Pirchner told a news conference.

"His aim was to kill himself and a large number of people during the concert... either today or tomorrow," he added. The concerts were to run from Thursday to Saturday.

The second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian, was employed at a facility management company which would have "provided services" at the Ernst Happel Stadium where Swift was to perform, said Haijawi-Pirchner.

The younger suspect, who has so far refused to talk to authorities, was "in the area" of the stadium where he was detained, said Haijawi-Pirchner.

According to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, a "tragedy was averted". "The situation was very serious", he added, particularly in view of a recent attack at a Taylor Swift themed event in Britain, where three girls were killed in Great Britain.

Explosives and detonators were found in a search of the main suspect's apartment, authorities said.

The 19-year-old, with North Macedonian roots, worked with another 17-year-old Austrian male and are among three people detained after the plot was announced late on Wednesday, to the shock of "Swiftie" fans globally.

Austria's general director for public security Frankz Ruf told ORF radio on Thursday that chemical substances and technical devices, showing "concrete preparatory actions", were found at the 19-year-old's house in the town of Ternitz.

Swift's three concerts in Vienna, expected to draw 195,000 people, were cancelled.

Earlier on Wednesday before the cancellation announcement, police had said the events would take place but with increased entry checks and personal searches, with deployment of special units including anti-terror and bomb disposal teams, advising the public to arrive early at the events.

Swift, 34, has not yet commented on the cancellations on her official Instagram account which has 283 million followers.

After Vienna, Swift was set to sing in London where six concerts are scheduled at Wembley Stadium, starting on Aug. 15.

'Shocked, sad'

In the official "Swifties" fan group on WhatsApp, panic ensued following the announcement of the shows' cancellation with administrators overwhelmed with thousands of messages.

Marie Sereinig, 15, who had traveled from the south of the Alps to attend the show with her aunt, had spent months planning her outfit for the concert.

"I'm simply shocked and very sad. But I can also understand that Taylor Swift wouldn't dare go on stage in these conditions," she told AFP.

Other fans also shared their dismay.

"I don't really have any words," said Flora Zoe Koberwein, a 20-year-old student, adding, "sorry for those who have traveled so far".