Risk of committing the crime

Swift terror plans: Beran A. remains in custody

Beran A. is suspected of having planned a suicide attack on the second of a total of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna.

(Bild: zVg)

The main suspect - Beran A. (19) - who is suspected of planning an attack on a planned Taylor Swift concert in Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium on August 9th, remains in custody. The court still assumes that there is a risk of the offense being committed. 

On Tuesday, the Regional Court for Criminal Matters extended the pre-trial detention imposed on the 19-year-old by two months, according to court spokeswoman Christina Salzborn. The detention order is already legally binding.

The decision did not come as a surprise. New cell phone and chat evaluations had recently provided the investigating public prosecutor with further evidence to support his assumption that the 19-year-old was probably a supporter of the radical Islamic terror militia "Islamic State" who was basically ready to strike before his arrest.

Making explosives at home
In addition, the Federal Criminal Police Office recently presented a report according to which Beran A. from Ternitz had produced explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) at home from everyday chemicals - sulphurous acid with a concentration of 4.1 to 4.5 percent, an acetone-based nail polish remover and twelve percent hydrogen peroxide. "The quantities were small, but appear to be sufficient to make a detonator," the report states.

"Swifities" are said to have been the target
The young man is suspected of having planned a suicide attack on the second of three Taylor Swift concerts planned in Vienna in the name of IS. Law enforcement authorities assume that he wanted to kill as many "Swifties", as the singer's fans are called, as possible in front of the stadium, either with a homemade explosive device or with cutting and stabbing weapons already in his possession. During a house search, electronic detonation devices, a twelve-channel transmitter, a detonator, a 60-centimeter-long metal pipe, a 30-centimeter-long combat knife, a 46-centimeter-long machete and a butterfly knife were also seized.

Since then, the Vienna public prosecutor's office has been investigating the 19-year-old for terrorist association, criminal organization and violations of the Weapons Act. A 17-year-old, who is also in custody, is considered a possible accomplice.