Current:Home > FinanceCIA: Taylor Swift concert suspects plotted to kill 'tens of thousands’ in Vienna -Wealth Evolution Experts
CIA: Taylor Swift concert suspects plotted to kill 'tens of thousands’ in Vienna
View
Date:2025-04-24 20:29:49
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! (8197)
Related
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
- Joe Brennan, Democratic former governor of Maine and US congressman, dies at 89
- Exhibit chronicles public mourning over Muhammad Ali in his Kentucky hometown
- Baltimore bridge collapse: Body of third worker, Honduran father, found by divers
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Fans return to Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' ahead of total solar eclipse
- Baltimore bridge collapse: Body of third worker, Honduran father, found by divers
- ‘Godzilla x Kong’ maintains box-office dominion in second weekend
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- When will Fed cut rates? As US economy flexes its muscles, maybe later or not at all
Ranking
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- South Carolina women stay perfect, defeat N.C. State 78-59 to reach NCAA title game
- First an earthquake, now an eclipse. Yankees to play ball on same day as another natural phenomenon
- SWAT team responding to Arkansas shopping mall, police ask public to avoid the area
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Forbes billionaires under 30 all inherited their wealth for first time in 15 years
- Hotel prices soar as tourists flock to see solar eclipse
- More Federal Money to Speed Repair of Historic Mining Harms in Pennsylvania
Recommendation
All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
Horoscopes Today, April 5, 2024
Jacob Flickinger's parents search for answers after unintentional strike kills World Central Kitchen aid workers
Florida Panhandle wildfire destroys 1 home and damages 15 others
Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
Women's Final Four winners, losers: Gabbie and 'Swatkins' step up; UConn's offense stalls
A Nebraska bill to ban transgender students from the bathrooms and sports of their choice fails
Led by Castle and Clingan, defending champ UConn returns to NCAA title game, beating Alabama 86-72