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BERLIN — A foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna earlier this month intended to kill “tens of thousands” of fans before CIA intelligence disrupted the planning and led to arrests, the agency’s Deputy Director David Cohen revealed.
The CIA alerted Austrian authorities about the scheme, which was linked to the Islamic State group. The intelligence led to the cancellation of three sold-out Eras Tour shows, leaving fans devastated.
“The suspects were plotting to kill a huge number of people at this concert, including many Americans,” Cohen said during the Intelligence and National Security Summit in Maryland. “The Austrians were able to make arrests because of information provided by the agency and our partners.”
The main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian man inspired by the Islamic State group, allegedly planned to attack with knives or homemade explosives outside the stadium, where tens of thousands were expected. Police found chemicals and technical devices during a raid of his home.
Austrian law prohibits local investigators from monitoring text messages, necessitating assistance from foreign intelligence agencies.
Swift, expressing her sorrow over the cancellations, thanked authorities for their intervention, saying, “Thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.”
Three suspects were arrested just days before the Vienna shows were set to begin. The foiled plot drew comparisons to the 2017 Ariana Grande concert bombing in Manchester, which killed 22 people. Cohen praised the CIA’s efforts, calling it “a really good day for Langley.” — Agencies
