Vienna, Jan 15, (dpa/GNA) – The main suspect in the plot to attack a concert by US pop star Taylor Swift in Austria, has been deemed criminally liable following a psychiatric exam, a spokeswoman for the prosecution said on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old suspect was of sound mind at the time of the offence, according to a psychiatric report obtained by the public prosecutor, she said.
She said it is standard to obtain an expert’s opinion in more serious cases before filing a charge, adding that the investigation is still ongoing.
The young man was detained two days before the first of Swift’s concerts in the Austrian capital Vienna in August 2024, and has been in pre-trial detention since. A 17-year-old suspected accomplice is also under investigation.
The main suspect is said to have planned a suicide attack in the name of the extremist militia organization Islamic State, at the second of a total of three concerts by Swift scheduled to take place in Vienna.
Investigators believe he intended to kill as many of the fans gathered in front of the stadium as possible, either with a homemade explosive device or with cutting and stabbing weapons.
The organizer cancelled all concerts in Vienna due to the terrorist threat.
Another 19-year-old man was also detained during the investigations into the case, and is to stand trial on suspicion of membership of a terrorist organization at the Vienna Regional Court on February 10.
He is not thought to have been directly involved in the plans to attack Swift’s concerts, but allegedly generally promoted Islamic State on social media.
GNA