Lawyer for suspect in alleged plot against Taylor Swift concerts says allegations are exaggerated
A lawyer for the main suspect in an alleged plot to attack now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna says authorities’ presentation of the case is exaggerated and his client wouldn’t have been able to carry out plans the attorney described as “fantasies.”
VIENNA (AP) — A lawyer for the main suspect in an alleged plot to attack now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna said Tuesday that authorities' presentation of the case is exaggerated, and his client wouldn't have been able to carry out plans that the attorney described as “fantasies.”
The 19-year-old Austrian man, whose name hasn't been released because of Austrian privacy rules, was arrested last Wednesday — one of three people who were detained. Hours later, organizers canceled the concerts that Swift was scheduled to play Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Austrian capital's Ernst Happel Stadium. Fans were devastated 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’s home, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices.
Authorities said last week that the man confessed that he had started planning the attack in July. Defense lawyer Werner Tomanek told the Austria Press Agency that he hasn't yet had access to the case files, but cited a “fragmentary record” of his client's initial questioning to dispute their account of a full confession.
