The main suspect in the foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Austria in August had initially considered a number of alternative targets including the Israeli embassy in Vienna, the Washington Post reports.
According to the report, Beran Aliji briefly considered carrying out attacks on a Shiite mosque, Kurdish diplomats or the embassy before settling on the concert.
Austrian officials have said the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian man, was inspired by the Islamic State group.
He allegedly planned to attack outside the stadium, where upwards of 30,000 fans were expected to gather, with knives or homemade explosives. Another 65,000 fans were likely to be inside the venue.
Investigators discovered chemical substances and technical devices during a raid of the suspect’s home.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 6, 2025
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