A Tornado Watch has been issued for the D. Friday as remnants of Debby moves through the region. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said an year-old was taken into custody Thursday evening in Vienna after allegedly being in contact with the main suspect.
Karner announced the arrest during an unrelated news conference Friday. Investigators are scrutinizing the "networks" of the suspects, the Austrian interior ministry told The Associated Press on Friday, adding in a statement that investigators have turned to evaluating physical and electronic evidence.
The year-old main suspect and a year-old were arrested Tuesday, while a year-old was also interrogated but was not arrested. None of their names were released, in line with Austrian privacy rules. Officials said Thursday afternoon that no additional suspects were being sought. They did not immediately offer further details Friday. Authorities say the plot appeared to have been inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. Investigators found bomb-making materials at the main suspect's home.
Officials say that teenager has confessed to planning to "kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue" using knives or homemade explosives. Officials say the main suspect and the year-old arrested Friday both pledged "oaths of allegiance" to the Islamic State group. Three sold-out concerts were canceled Wednesday because of the plot, devastating Swifties from across the globe. Many of them had dropped thousands of euros dollars on travel and lodging in Austria's expensive capital city to attend the Eras Tour shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
Concert organizers in Austria said they had expected up to 65, fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30, onlookers outside, where authorities said the suspects planned to strike. The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Karner. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer defended the decision to cancel the concerts, saying the arrests took place too close to the shows, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
