Main suspect in Taylor Swift concert attack backed Islamic State, says Austria

Austria's general director for public security Frankz Ruf told ORF radio on Thursday that chemical substances and technical devices

The main suspect among three Austrian teenagers detained over a planned attack on a Taylor Swift concert had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group and had chemical substances at his home, authorities said.

The central suspect, a 19-year-old male with North Macedonian roots, was detained along with two other youths aged 17 and 15, officials said after the plot was announced on Wednesday to the shock of "Swiftie" fans globally.

Austria's general director for public security Frankz Ruf told ORF radio on Thursday that chemical substances and technical devices, showing "concrete preparatory actions", were found at the 19-year-old's house in the town of Ternitz.

He had sworn allegiance to Islamic State's leader, he added, citing internet evidence. Swift's three concerts in Vienna, expected to draw 195,000 people, were cancelled.