Teenager Charged in Plot to Attack Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna

Prosecutors have charged a Syrian teenager living in Germany for his role in a plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The threat led to the cancellation of three concerts, impacting thousands of fans and the local economy.

Prosecutors in Germany have formally charged a Syrian teenager, identified only as Mohammad A. due to privacy laws, with aiding in a plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, which was originally scheduled for summer 2024. The concert series was canceled following credible threats that reportedly drew the initial attention of American intelligence.

The charges against the teenager include supporting a foreign terrorist organization and assisting in preparing a serious act of violence that threatens state security. Investigators allege that the youth, now in custody, helped to translate Arabic bomb-making instructions and an oath of loyalty to the Islamic State for the main suspect. His specific age remains undisclosed.

The main figure linked to the plot, a 19-year-old Austrian citizen with Macedonian heritage, was arrested after a police search of his family home in Ternitz revealed machetes, explosive-making materials, counterfeit money, and Islamic State propaganda. The investigation into his activities is ongoing, and he currently remains in detention. Authorities also detained another teen in August, a 17-year-old Austrian, but he has since been released without charges.

The Syrian teenager, who reportedly became radicalized through online platforms, allegedly connected the primary suspect with an Islamic State contact via social media. As a minor, he has not been placed in custody. The cancellation of the concerts, which typically yield significant economic benefits for host cities, represented a notable disappointment for Vienna and its local economy.