Suspect in Taylor Swift concert plot had chemicals to build bomb - police

The 19-year-old prime suspect in an alleged plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert that led to the cancellation of the singer's three-night run in Vienna had collected chemicals with the intention of building a bomb, senior Austrian security officials have said.

- Deborah Cole

The Austrian suspect was arrested along with a 17-year-old who recently started working for a services company providing support for the concerts, on suspicion of planning an Islamist attack. A third person, 15, was taken into custody late on Wednesday in connection with the investigation.

Authorities said they had reason to believe one of the Swift concerts was a target. They dismissed media reports that there were still suspects at large.

The 19-year-old suspect intended "either today or tomorrow to kill himself and a large crowd of people", the head of state protection and intelligence at the Austrian interior ministry, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, told a news conference. He said the alleged plotter was part of an Islamist network known to police.

Swift, 34, has not yet commented on the cancellations. The Vienna leg of the star's Eras tour at Ernst Happel stadium yesterday, today and tomorrow had been expected to draw more than 170,000 people, with another 20,000 fans gathered outside. Austrian media said there were no plans for the shows to be held at a later date.

Fans will receive a refund for their tickets, organisers said.