Nehamer said that we live in times where the joys of life are fought with terroristic means. He can understand that many people who have been looking forward to these concerts for a long time are now sad. But it is unimaginable to think of the immeasurable damage caused by that attack. “Thank God a tragedy was averted,” Nehammer said.
The difference between the European football championships and the Olympic Games is that an IS cell was raised “immediately before”, Nehhammer advocated the cancellation. This meant that the risk situation was many times higher. At the same time, the Chancellor praised the work of investigators: the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN) has done an excellent job in cooperation with foreign partner services.
Nehammer was vague on the note
According to Nehammer, cooperation here has improved since the terrorist attacks in Vienna. In the present case, the tip came from the foreign partner service. Asked whether one would always depend on it, Nehhammer said Austria had already given signs. It is important that investigating officers have more powers. Expansion of technical measures is necessary here.
At ZIB2, Nehhammer was vague when asked when Austria was warned. Instead, he mentioned cooperation: international partner services are needed because terrorism is international. Nehhammer did not want to be understood as a lack of confidence in foreign partner services that the Office of Military Intelligence received the information and not DSN. It is about “shared knowledge” and DSN is gaining international trust. No service can function without communication.
Nehhammer: “Threat situation remains brief”
A specific threat at Taylor Swift concerts was averted and a tragedy averted. But there is still a brief threatening situation, Chancellor Karl Nehhammer (ÖVP) said.
The National Security Council meets
Nehamar said the National Security Council would be convened. The committee will meet in the next few days. The National Security Council is the federal government’s central advisory body on foreign, defense, and security policy matters, including complex forms of threats such as terrorism and organized crime.
Nehhammer also said that preventing a terrorist attack proved the strength of a defensive democracy. It is important to resist what terrorism seeks to incite: that is, destroy people, turn societies against each other, and endanger democracies. Islamic, political terrorism seeks to “sow hatred, between different groups, between religions”.
Opposition parties demand clarification
Opposition parties have previously criticized it – and there have been loud calls for safeguards. The SPÖ indicates a high terror alert level in Austria. This contributes to severe uncertainty and leaves people in the dark about what the security situation really is, said SPÖ club president Philipp Kucher.
“People have the right to be kept in the dark,” SPÖ leader Andreas Popler said.
NEOS: “Irresponsible”
NEOS had called for an immediate briefing at the President’s House with all parliamentary parties. The Pink Party criticized the fact that to date neither Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) nor the chancellor has contacted the other parliamentary parties as “irresponsible”, despite the apparent increased risk with far-reaching consequences for a major event. NEOS also announced a parliamentary inquiry.
The FPÖ also demands a “full clarification of the threat situation”.
FPÖ leader Herbert Kigl demanded a “full clarification of the threat situation” from the federal government and the interior minister. Phrases like “brief threat situation” can’t leave an entire country in the dark for days, Gickle said: “The public has a right to know: When will information and tips about a planned attack be received from abroad? A few hours or more? Domestic state security about the specific threat situation and potential terrorists.” What does the company know?
Kickl also wants to know the answer to the question of why the potential attackers were taken out of circulation shortly before the first concert scheduled for Thursday, if the information was already available.
Gikl invited an evening debate on who was responsible for the spread of Islam in Austria. “Radical Islamism did not fall from the sky, nor was it a natural disaster that struck our homeland, but the result of decades of completely misguided immigration policy,” he said in a broadcast.
Ludwig: “Safety comes first”
Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) wrote on the online service X that he understood the fans’ disappointment and regretted the cancellation. The safety of people, artists and fans is “our top priority”. Vienna stands for “peaceful coexistence and strong unity”. “To ensure the safety of the people who live here and visit our city, it’s important to come together across all party lines,” Ludwig said.
In an interview with “Vienna Today”, Vienna police chief Gerhard Bürstl noted that despite the cancellation of the concert, there was “very, very high security” in Vienna. “The security situation in Vienna is excellent,” Burstl said – more on this at Wien.ORF.at.
Concert organizer Barracuda Music previously announced details of the three concert cancellations. Barracuda managing director Ewald Tatar told media at the Ministry of the Interior that they still stand behind the decision. The result is “correct”.
US Ambassador Condolences
Meanwhile, the US ambassador in Vienna, Victoria Kennedy, offered her condolences to the “Swifties,” as fans of pop star Swift are called. “I believe this is a very difficult decision, but safety comes first. We appreciate the hard work of the Austrian authorities,” he wrote in X.
Swift, a 14-time Grammy winner, was scheduled to appear in Vienna for the first time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her “The Eras” tour. Organizers canceled the concert series on Wednesday evening, citing “confirmation of a planned terrorist attack by government officials.”
