A 19-year-old was taken into custody in Ternitz (Neunkirchen district) on Wednesday in connection with plans to attack events in the greater Vienna area. Another arrest was made in the federal capital, said the Director General for Public Security, Franz Ruf, at a press conference. The 19-year-old had “sworn allegiance to IS”. There will be increased security measures for Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts.
Radicalized on the Internet
“We have identified appropriate preparatory actions and also that the 19-year-old perpetrator is focusing on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” said Ruf. According to the current status of the investigation, the accused – the 19-year-old is an Austrian citizen, no further details were given about the second – “radicalized themselves on the Internet,” it was said. Chemical substances were seized and are “currently being evaluated,” said Ruf. He was initially unable to say what these were.
Video: Details of the arrests were announced at a press conference called at short notice in Vienna
Above all, police measures will be increased at the planned Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna. From August 8th to 10th, the US singer will perform at the sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. A special focus will be placed on access controls and personal searches, says Ruf. Visitors should therefore plan some time.
Wega and Cobra in action
Vienna’s state police chief Gerhard Pürstl said that the concrete danger had been minimized, but that an abstract danger existed, so measures had to be taken. The “anti-terror component” was also being increased, which meant that special forces were being deployed on site, including in plain clothes. Special vehicles would also be deployed, and explosives experts would also be on site. “We will also deploy the WEGA special unit and police dogs for these concerts, and we will be supported by COBRA.”
Due to the increased access and entry controls, visitors must expect delays. Pürstl advises planning an extra hour. When asked about a possible cancellation of the concerts, Pürstl said that the police authorities cannot cancel them, but have to ensure that the event runs safely. Ruf added that the status of the investigation will be passed on to the organizers.
“Investigations are in full swing”
Ruf could not say whether there would be any more arrests in addition to the two that have already been made. “The investigations are in full swing.” We will see in the next few hours what the further investigations will look like. Details are to be announced “in the foreseeable future.”
The hours-long operation in Ternitz began on Wednesday morning. The 19-year-old was arrested in the morning hours. Parts of a retirement home and other buildings were evacuated as a precautionary measure and roadblocks were set up. Several buildings and around 60 households were affected, said Mayor Christian Samwald (SPÖ) when asked.
“Disciplined and calm”
The Ternitzer town hall was opened to provide people with food and drinks. Rescue organizations were on site, but according to the mayor, medical measures were not necessary. In the late afternoon, the residents were able to return to their homes. Samwald emphasized that everything had been “extremely disciplined and calm.”
Video: Police and special forces were on a major operation in Lower Austria on Wednesday
This article was last updated at 18:58.
