Terrorists still see Taylor Swift concert cancellation as a victory: Nicole Parker
Former FBI Special Agent Nicole Parker joins 'Cavuto Live' to weigh in on the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna due to a terror plot.
A lawyer for the 19-year-old man arrested in connection to an alleged planned attack on Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" Vienna concerts claimed the authorities had exaggerated his client's involvement.
Swift's three Vienna shows were canceled hours after the arrest in Austria. The suspect reportedly gave authorities a full confession, but his lawyer emphasized the alleged plans were "pure fantasies."
"He had neither the means nor the possibility and the explosives to carry this out," Werner Tomanek told the Austria Press Agency. He added that authorities' allegations against the 19-year-old suspect were "overacting at its best," and contended that they are "presenting this exaggeratedly" in order to get new surveillance powers.
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A lawyer for a suspect in the alleged terror attack plans for Taylor Swift's Austria concerts said authorities were "overreacting" about his threats. (Buda Mendes)
Tomanek said that his client appeared to have mental problems and described him as "a lone wolf without social contacts." He said that "the alleged attack plans were pure fantasies."
The lawyer noted the suspect had admitted "in principle to Islamist tendencies" during questioning with police. Tomanek also acknowledged his client did pledge allegiance to the Islamic State group online, but claimed he quickly deleted it.
"He had neither the means nor the possibility and the explosives to carry this out."
Three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna were canceled due to an alleged terror plot. (Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Swift's three Vienna concerts were canceled on Aug. 7 after authorities arrested a 17-year-old male and a 19-year-old male who were allegedly plotting a terror attack at Ernst Happel Stadium. An 18-year-old male was arrested on Aug. 8.
A 15-year-old male has been questioned by police but has not been named as a suspect.
WATCH: TERRORISTS STILL SEE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT CANCELATION AS A VICTORY
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At least one of the suspects confessed to wanting to "kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue."
Bomb-making materials were also found in at least one of the teens' homes. The 19-year-old male had bomb-making manuals in his possession along with homemade explosives, detonators and hydrogen peroxide, according to NBC.
A screen displays a photo of a man arrested in connection with an alleged terrorist plot targeting Taylor Swift concerts this week in Vienna. (Roland Schlager/APA/AFP via Getty Images)
Authorities found ISIS and al Qaeda materials at the home of the 17-year-old.
Due to Austrian privacy laws, the names of the suspects have not been released to the public.
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Despite the Vienna cancelation, Swift's London "Eras Tour" stop will proceed as planned.
London's Metropolitan Police said there was no indication of any links to the planned attacks in Austria. Swift is set to take the stage at Wembley Stadium for a second round of shows beginning Aug. 15. The "Tortured Poets Department" singer will perform five shows in London.
Taylor Swift will take the stage in London for "The Eras Tour" following the cancelation of Vienna concerts. (Thomas Niedermueller/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
However, there will likely be "additional layers of protection" in the wake of the thwarted terror attack plan, a security expert told Fox News Digital.
"Taylor Swift’s team is likely implementing additional layers of protection to ensure her own safety, as well as her fans' and the public’s safety," Julian Moro, SVP and regional security director at International SOS, told Fox News Digital. "While it is not known what the exact measures may be, we can assume this could include increasing security personnel, limiting public appearances and interactions and reassessing travel routes. It also will likely include making sure that there’s additional security at and around the venues where she’ll perform for the remainder of her tour."
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
