Officials reported that the 19-year-old Austrian suspect began formulating his attack plans in July. He had uploaded an oath of allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group militia just weeks before the planned attack. His intention was to use knives or homemade explosives on the exterior of the stadium.
Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, stated that the suspect was “clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels.”
Investigation
During a raid of the suspect’s home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices indicating “concrete preparatory acts,” as described by Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior.
Authorities also discovered Islamic State and al-Qaida materials at the home of a second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian.
This suspect was employed just days prior by a company providing services at the concert venue and was arrested near the stadium by special police forces.
