Austrian authorities said Thursday they believe that the two suspects arrested for allegedly planning the Taylor Swift concert terror attack in Vienna were apparently inspired by al-Qaida, the radical Islamic terrorist organization that was responsible for the infamous Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York City.
Al-Qaeda translates in English into “The Base,” and was formerly led by now deceased leader Osama bin Laden, one of the masterminds who helped the terror group bring down the World Trade Center Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
The two men reportedly confessed to wanting to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”
As a result of their plans, Taylor Swift had three sold-out concerts at Ernst Happel Stadium canceled Wednesday. The terror plan was scheduled to be launched on Thursday and Friday.
Swift was expecting up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each event and as many as 30,000 people trying to listen to her performance outside the arena, according to a report published by the Associated Press.
Austrian officials said one suspects began orchestrating the terror plan in July and even uploaded an oath of allegiance to the leader of ISIS.
The 19-year old Austrian national planned to use homemade explosives to carry out the attack outside the concert, the AP reported.
They also found al-Qaida and Islamic State group content at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian who had previously worked for a company linked to services at the stadium.
