Details are emerging about an alleged terror plot targeting Taylor Swift’s three concerts in Vienna, but information remains limited. The situation follows a disturbing pattern familiar to European counterterrorism officials.
Austrian police reported that a 19-year-old man was arrested in Ternitz, about an hour’s drive from the Ernst Happel Stadium, where Swift was set to perform on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Authorities discovered “chemical substances” at the man’s home that could be linked to bomb-making. They noted that “specific preparatory measures have been undertaken” to target the concerts.
The search led to the evacuation of 60 households in the area, and the search continued into the evening. A second suspect was apprehended in Vienna later that day, but police did not disclose details about this individual due to the ongoing investigation. Further arrests have also been made.
Both suspects had been radicalized online, with the 19-year-old having pledged allegiance to ISIS’ new leader last month. Police also pointed out the role of social media in the radicalization and planning of the attacks.
General Director for Public Security Franz Ruf highlighted that the suspects’ communications were typically encrypted, complicating counter-terror surveillance.
Recent trends show a troubling increase in teenage involvement in terrorism. A study by terrorism expert Peter Neumann revealed that teenagers represented nearly two-thirds of ISIS-linked arrests in Europe over the past nine months. Of the 58 suspects in 27 attacks or disrupted plots since October last year, 38 were aged between 13 and 19.
The study also indicated a significant rise in attacks and planned attacks since 2022. Notable cases include a 14-year-old girl arrested in Austria in May for buying weapons for an alleged attack and teenagers arrested in France and Germany for various terror-related activities.
In Switzerland, police arrested a 15-year-old Swiss boy and a 16-year-old Italian boy in March for alleged ISIS support and bomb plot planning. Neumann emphasized that ISIS and its affiliate ISIS-K specifically target young teenagers, who might be less suspicious but still dangerous.
Social media platforms like TikTok are used to recruit these young individuals, drawing them into extremist online communities. Despite TikTok’s efforts to remove content promoting terrorism, the recruitment and radicalization of teenagers remain significant issues.
European security officials are increasingly concerned about the “directed terror threat,” where attacks are organized by experienced recruiters from afar. There is also concern about emerging threats from regions of the former Soviet Union, including Russia’s North Caucasus and Central Asian states.
In Austria, counter-terror police recently detained eight men and a woman for fundraising for ISIS. Authorities seized laptops, cash, fake passports, and a vehicle, and are considering revoking the suspects’ residence permits.