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From the Associated Press: The suspects in the foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna earlier this month sought to kill “tens of thousands” of fans before the CIA discovered intelligence that disrupted the planning and led to arrests, the agency’s deputy director said.
The CIA notified Austrian authorities of the scheme, which allegedly included links to the Islamic State group. The intelligence and subsequent arrests ultimately led to the cancellation of three sold-out Eras Tour shows, devastating fans who had traveled across the globe to see Swift in concert.
CIA Deputy Director David Cohen addressed the failed plot during the annual Intelligence and National Security Summit, held this week in Maryland.
“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.”
In compliance with Austrian “privacy rules,” the names of the suspects have not been released to the public.
The main suspect is described as a 19-year Austrian man (ethnicity not revealed) who was inspired by the Islamic State terror group. The AP wrote:
He allegedly planned to attack outside the stadium, where upwards of 30,000 fans were expected to gather, with knives or homemade explosives. Another 65,000 fans were likely to be inside the venue. Investigators discovered chemical substances and technical devices during a raid of the suspect’s home.
The 19-year-old and a second suspect, age 17, were both arrested on August 6, a day before the concert cancellations were announced.
A third suspect, age 18, was arrested two days later, on August 8.
ISIS-linked terrorists aimed to kill “tens of thousands” of Taylor Swift fans at Vienna concert before CIA intel disrupted the planning and led to arrests. Main suspect is 19-year-old Austrian man. Radical Islamism is sweeping the West especially our campuses. We better wake up. pic.twitter.com/7sAhIl9xvU
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) August 29, 2024
The CIA provided intelligence to Austrian authorities that allowed them to disrupt a terror plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna this month, the agency’s deputy director said on Wednesday. https://t.co/kdKFUKUlqX
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 28, 2024
“The plot to attack Taylor Swift’s Vienna shows was intended to kill thousands, a CIA official says.” https://t.co/94j857MNEt
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) August 29, 2024
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