Current:Home > FinanceCIA: Taylor Swift concert suspects plotted to kill 'tens of thousands’ in Vienna -ProsperityStream Academy
CIA: Taylor Swift concert suspects plotted to kill 'tens of thousands’ in Vienna
View
Date:2025-04-13 02:48:03
A CIA deputy said the thwarted terrorist plot at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna earlier month was intended to kill "tens of thousands" of people.
David Cohen, a CIA deputy director, got candid about the suspected terror plot to target fans of the popstar, during the Intelligence and National Security Summit, held annually in Maryland, according to the Associated Press and The New York Times.
“They were plotting to kill a huge number, tens of thousands of people at this concert, including I am sure many Americans and were quite advanced in this,” Cohen said Wednesday. “The Austrians were able to make those arrests because the agency and our partners in the intelligence community provided them information about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do.”
Taylor Swift cancels Vienna Eras tourconcerts after two arrested in alleged terror plot
Three people were arrested in relation to the suspected terrorist plot that had been planned for one of Swift's Vienna shows on Aug. 8-10, which were cancelled. The suspects are an 18-year-old Iraqi national, a 19-year-old Austrian living in a town near the Hungarian border and a 17-year-old boy hired by a company that was to provide services to the Ernst Happel Stadium.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer wrote in a social media post that the security situation was very serious, and a tragedy was averted.
"We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety," said Barracuda Music, the promoter for the Austrian shows. "All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days."
Later, Swift broke her silence in an Aug. 21 Instagram post days after cancelling the shows on the alleged terrorist plot and her fans' safety.
"Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows," Swift wrote in the caption. "But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives."
She continued: "I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together. I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us."
Contributing: Bryan West, Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra
veryGood! (69)
Related
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- 'Anyone But You': Glen Powell calls Sydney Sweeney the 'Miss Congeniality of Australia'
- No. 1 recruit Jeremiah Smith ends speculation as Ohio State confirms signing Wednesday
- 4 Indian soldiers killed and 3 wounded in an ambush by rebels in disputed Kashmir
- Your Wedding Guests Will Thank You if You Get Married at These All-Inclusive Resorts
- Apple loses latest bid to thwart patent dispute threatening to stop U.S. sales of two watch models
- Toyota recalls 1 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles because air bag may not deploy properly
- The Chilling True Story Behind Dr. Death: Cutthroat Conman
- Plunge Into These Olympic Artistic Swimmers’ Hair and Makeup Secrets
- Carson Briere, fellow ex-Mercyhurst athlete get probation in wheelchair incident
Ranking
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- No. 1 recruit Jeremiah Smith ends speculation as Ohio State confirms signing Wednesday
- Dollar General robbery suspect shot by manager, crashes into bus, dies: Texas authorities
- Cuisinart Flash Deal, Save $100 on a Pizza Oven That’s Compact and Easy To Use
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Man who killed 83-year-old woman as a teen gets new shorter sentence
- Chilling 'Zone of Interest' imagines life next door to a death camp
- Who is Netflix's 'Rebel Moon' star? Former Madonna dancer Sofia Boutella takes the cape
Recommendation
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
Federal judge blocks California law that would ban carrying firearms in most public places
Mandy Moore talks 'out of my wheelhouse' 'Dr. Death' and being 'unscathed' by pop start
'The Masked Singer' unveils Season 10 winner: Watch
FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
Actor Jonathan Majors found guilty on 2 charges in domestic assault trial
Ex-Alabama prison officer gets 7 years behind bars for assaulting prisoners
Forget Hollywood's 'old guard,' Nicolas Cage says the young filmmakers get him