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Taylor Swift Austrian concert plot stuff of 㽶Ƶֱfantasies㽶Ƶֱ: suspect㽶Ƶֱs lawyer

Allegations that resulted in cancellation of Vienna show called exaggerated
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Swifties trade bracelets in the city centre in Vienna on Thursday, Aug.8, 2024. Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in the stadium in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)

A lawyer for the main suspect in to attack now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna said Tuesday that authorities㽶Ƶֱ presentation of the case is exaggerated, and his client wouldn㽶Ƶֱt have been able to carry out plans that the attorney described as 㽶Ƶֱfantasies.㽶Ƶֱ

The 19-year-old Austrian man, whose name hasn㽶Ƶֱt been released because of Austrian privacy rules, was arrested last Wednesday 㽶Ƶֱ one of three people who were detained. Hours later, organizers that Swift was scheduled to play Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Austrian capital㽶Ƶֱs Ernst Happel Stadium. Fans by the decision.

Austrian officials have said that the suspect wanted to carry out an attack outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using knives or home-made explosives. They say that, during a raid of the suspect㽶Ƶֱs home, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices.

Authorities said last week that the man confessed that he had started in July. Defense lawyer Werner Tomanek told the Austria Press Agency that he hasn㽶Ƶֱt yet had access to the case files, but cited a 㽶Ƶֱfragmentary record㽶Ƶֱ of his client㽶Ƶֱs initial questioning to dispute their account of a full confession.

㽶ƵֱHe had neither the means nor the possibility and the explosives to carry this out,㽶Ƶֱ Tomanek said. He added that authorities㽶Ƶֱ allegations against the 19-year-old suspect were 㽶Ƶֱoveracting at its best,㽶Ƶֱ and contended that they are 㽶Ƶֱpresenting this exaggeratedly㽶Ƶֱ in order to get new surveillance powers.

Tomanek said that his client appeared to have mental problems and described him as 㽶Ƶֱa lone wolf without social contacts.㽶Ƶֱ He said that 㽶Ƶֱthe alleged attack plans were pure fantasies.㽶Ƶֱ

The lawyer said that, in his first questioning by investigators, his client had admitted 㽶Ƶֱin principle to Islamist tendencies㽶Ƶֱ and conceded that he had sought and found 㽶Ƶֱcontact with such people online,㽶Ƶֱ APA reported. He added that the young man did make a pledge of loyalty to the Islamic State group and put it online, but said he deleted it shortly after.

Asked why his client did so, Tomanek replied: 㽶ƵֱBecause he found it cool.㽶Ƶֱ He said the man wanted to imitate poses struck by in a Nov. 2, 2020, attack in Vienna in which four people were killed and the gunman 㽶Ƶֱ who had a previous conviction for trying to join IS in Syria 㽶Ƶֱ also was killed.

Swift has five concerts at London㽶Ƶֱs Wembley Stadium scheduled starting on Thursday.

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