CIA foils ISIS terror plot against Taylor Swift concerts - Politico
Photo: Pop star Taylor Swift (Getty Images)
ISIS planned to carry out a terrorist attack at one of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concerts in Vienna. However, CIA representatives managed to warn the Austrian authorities in advance, according to Politico.
CIA Deputy Director David Cohen said that the agency had warned Austrian authorities about a planned terrorist attack on Taylor Swift's concert in Vienna earlier this month.
“They planned to kill a huge number of people, tens of thousands at this concert including, I’m sure, many Americans,” Cohen said.
The pop star's concerts in Vienna on August 8, 9, and 10 were canceled by the organizers.
This happened after Austrian police received a warning about a terrorist plot planned by individuals inspired by the Islamic State.
Following the warning, Austrian authorities arrested two men— a 19-year-old in the city of Ternitz and another in Vienna— who were preparing to carry out the attack. A third suspect, an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen, was detained the next day.
Cohen emphasized that Austrian law enforcement made several arrests after the agency and its intelligence community partners provided them with information about what this ISIS-linked group was planning to do.
The singer reached the peak of her popularity last year. Taylor Swift was named Time magazine's Person of the Year 2023.
The Eras Tour is the American singer's sixth concert tour, which she describes as a musical journey through all her musical eras.
The Eras Tour has become her most extensive tour, including 146 performances across five continents.
Last year, a fan died at one of Swift's concerts. And this year, Taylor Swift fans caused an earthquake during one of her concerts. Seismologists noted that such tremors were caused by the synchronized jumping and dancing of the audience.
