Skopje, 8 August 2024 (MIA) - The Interior Ministry said Thursday it is acting upon a request submitted by the Austrian authorities for information on an individual from the country suspected of planning a terrorist attack in Vienna.

“We would like to notify you that the Austrian authorities have submitted a request to the Interior Ministry for information on an individual who originates from Macedonia and is suspected of planning a terrorist attack in Vienna. The Ministry is acting upon the submitted request,” the Ministry told MIA.

The Austrian police has arrested two men suspected of planning to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. Austrian media reported that one of them, a 19-year-old man, hailed from North Macedonia.

Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, described the 19-year-old arrested in Terniz as “immediate main perpetrator” adding that the second man arrested was 17 years old, reported the Austrian news agency APA.

Several chemical substances and technical devices were seized during a house search yesterday. According to Ruf, the main suspect pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group a few weeks ago, who is believed to have been radicalized on the internet.

“The two men arrested were born in Austria, the parents of the 19-year-old have roots in North Macedonia and the mother of the 17-year-old is Austrian, said Ruf.  

The arrests, he noted, minimized the threat by this small group and the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts was a decision and a responsibility of the organizers.  

The Austrian public security official confirms the police were tipped off by foreign intelligence services before an investigation was launched in combination with intel of the Austrian security services. 

Photo: EPA