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Austria charges 21-year-old in alleged Vienna concert plot

Kagi News | 2026-02-16 15:55 UTC | source

🛡️ Austrian prosecutors have filed terrorism-related and other charges against an unnamed 21-year-old accused of planning an Islamist militant attack on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in Vienna in August 2024 12345.

Authorities arrested the suspect shortly before the scheduled shows; officials later cancelled all three Vienna dates after warning of the alleged plot 2345.

Vienna, Austria
FILE - Austrian police officers watch Swifties gathering in the city centre in Vienna on Aug. 8, 2024.
FILE - Austrian police officers watch Swifties gathering in the city centre in Vienna on Aug. 8, 2024. — AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader (file)

Sources

  1. Austria files terror charges against suspect over planned 2024 Taylor Swift attack [scmp.com] (2026-02-16)
  2. Taylor Swift concert attack plot: 21-year-old man charged with terrorism in Austria [theguardian.com] (2026-02-17)
  3. 21-year-old man facing terrorism charges in Taylor Swift concert attack plot [cbsnews.com] (2026-02-16)
  4. Austria files terror charges in alleged Taylor Swift concert plot [dw.com] (2026-02-16)
  5. Terrorism charges filed against suspect over plot to attack Taylor Swift show [abcnews.go.com] (2026-02-16)
  6. Austria files charges against suspect over planned 2024 Taylor Swift attack [straitstimes.com] (2026-02-16)
  7. Suspect in plot to attack Taylor Swift show in Vienna faces terrorism charges [theglobeandmail.com] (2026-02-16)

Highlights

  1. Alleged target and method: Prosecutors allege the suspect planned to bomb one of Swift’s Vienna Eras Tour shows 2.
  2. Explosives allegation: Prosecutors say the suspect made a small quantity of triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a homemade explosive used in past terror plots 16.
  3. Weapons allegation: Prosecutors also accuse the defendant of trying to buy weapons illegally as part of the alleged preparations 16.
  4. Islamic State link: Some outlets report prosecutors said the suspect declared allegiance to the Islamic State group (or described him as an ISIS member) 67.

Perspectives

Vienna prosecutors’ office: The Vienna prosecutors’ office said it will pursue the case in Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna, after filing terrorism-related and other charges against the unnamed 21-year-old suspect 1.

Austrian authorities (2024 security response): Authorities warned of the alleged plot ahead of the August 2024 concerts, prompting the cancellation of all three Vienna dates as a precaution.

Prosecution reporting on motive: Prosecutors said the suspect declared allegiance to the Islamic State group, casting the allegations as ideologically motivated rather than an ordinary criminal case.

Timeline

1
August 2024
Officials cancelled three Vienna Eras Tour dates after warning of an alleged plot 23.
2
August 2024
Authorities arrested the suspect shortly before the planned concerts 13.
3
Monday
Austrian prosecutors filed terrorism-related charges against the suspect 35.