Teenager Charged in Alleged Plot to Attack Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna

A Syrian teenager residing in Germany has been charged for his involvement in a plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, which led to the cancellation of three major performances last summer.

Prosecutors have levied charges against a Syrian teenager identified as Mohammad A. for allegedly assisting in a terrorist plot targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna during the summer of 2024. The contemplated attack prompted the cancellation of three concerts, which were anticipated to attract around 150,000 fans.

According to German investigators, Mohammad A. is accused of translating Arabic materials related to bomb construction and an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State for the primary suspect. Charges against him include supporting a foreign terrorist organization and aiding in the preparation of a serious act of violence threatening the state. The specific age of the teenager has not been disclosed due to privacy laws, but he has not been detained as he is considered a minor.

The initial warning regarding a credible threat against Swift's concerts reportedly originated from American intelligence. In response, local authorities apprehended a 19-year-old Austrian citizen of Macedonian descent as the main suspect. Upon searching his residence in Ternitz, approximately 40 miles from Vienna, law enforcement discovered alarming items, including machetes, knives, timers, and explosive chemicals, alongside counterfeit currency and Islamic State propaganda.

The primary suspect remains in custody while investigations continue, according to a statement from the Vienna prosecutor's office. In addition, a 17-year-old Austrian accomplice was arrested in August but has since been released without facing charges.

Authorities allege that the Syrian teenager became radicalized online and facilitated communication between the main suspect and an Islamic State contact via social media platforms. The consequences of the attack on Swift's concert series extend beyond security threats, as her performances are known to significantly benefit the local economies of cities in which they take place.