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The Austrian Interior Ministry said that both suspects had become radicalized on the internet and made “concrete preparations for a terrorist attack.” Ruf said the 19-year-old Austrian citizen had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group in July.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ruf also said that chemical substances were seized from the main suspect’s home and were being evaluated. He didn’t give more details.<\/p>\n
A person familiar with the matter told CBS News Wednesday evening that police found chemical substances when the 19-year-old was arrested, but not all the components necessary to build a working explosive device.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
Austrian authorities canceled the concerts out of an abundance of caution because the investigation is continuing into other possible co-conspirators who may have been involved in the alleged plans, the source added. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer called the concerts’ cancellation “a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria,” adding that “the threat was recognized early, combated and a tragedy prevented.”<\/p>\n
“We live in a time in which violent means are being used to attack our western way of life,” Nehammer wrote on social media<\/a>. “Islamist terrorism threatens security and freedom in many western countries. This is precisely why we will not give up our values such as freedom and democracy, but will defend them even more vehemently.”<\/p>\nPrior to the cancellation announcement, Provincial Police President Gerhard P\u00fcrstl had said officials would step up security measures for the concerts to include the deployment of police officers in both civilian clothes and uniform, video surveillance, a police dog unit and other special law enforcement units. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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