CIA Says It Helped Foil Attack at Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna

The CIA says it helped foil a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna early in August.

At a Glance

The CIA says the agency and its partners provided information on a planned attack.
Concerts were canceled for safety reasons.
Austrian authorities arrested three suspects linked to the Islamic State.
The attack aimed to kill tens of thousands of people, the CIA Deputy Director said.

CIA Says It Helped Foil Deadly Plot

The CIA says it alerted Austrian authorities to information that helped stop a terrorist plot targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The agency’s Deputy Director David Cohen disclosed this during the annual Intelligence and National Security Summit. According to Cohen, the planned attack aimed to kill tens of thousands of people, which likely included many Americans.

The information from the CIA and its intelligence partners led to swift action by Austrian law enforcement. On August 7, authorities arrested two men: a 19-year-old from Ternitz and another individual in Vienna. Another person, an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen, was taken into custody the following day.

Details uncovered by the Austrian police revealed that the plot was linked to the Islamic State group. Police discovered chemical substances and technical devices at the main suspect’s residence. The key perpetrator, a 19-year-old Austrian man inspired by ISIS, allegedly planned to use knives or homemade explosives for the attack.

Deputy CIA Director David Cohen on plot to attack Taylor Swift concert: "The Austrians were able to make those arrests because the agency and our partners in intelligence community provided them information…as a result hundreds of lives undoubtedly were saved." pic.twitter.com/kDmbNgXPWu

— CSPAN (@cspan) August 29, 2024

Canceled Concerts and Public Safety Measures

The threat led to the cancellation of Taylor Swift’s scheduled concerts in Vienna on August 8, 9, and 10. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer defended this difficult decision, labeling it as an essential move for public safety. The concerts were anticipated to draw approximately 65,000 fans inside the stadium, with another 30,000 onlookers outside.

“I understand very well that those who wanted to experience the concert live are very sad,” Nehammer stated during a news conference. “Moms and dads are looking after their daughters and sons who were full of enthusiasm and anticipation for this concert. But it’s also important that in such serious moments as now, it’s inevitable that safety comes first.”

Austrian Police Take Action

The arrests of the suspects revealed deep-rooted connections to radical ideologies and serious plans to carry out mass casualties. The main suspect, Beran A., had allegedly uploaded an oath of allegiance to the ISIS leader online. Similarly, the 17-year-old suspect was reported to have Islamic State and al-Qaida materials at his residence and was employed at the concert venue. The third suspect, a 15-year-old boy, was also questioned.

Police said that the main suspect had intentions “to kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.” Chemicals found in his apartment underscored the severity of the threat.

Increased Vigilance for Future Events

This incident raised concerns about the safety of large gatherings and the influence of radical groups. The CIA has previously warned other countries about potential terrorist plots. As Taylor Swift’s concert tour continues, authorities in London have prepared for her upcoming performances with heightened security.

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed the concerts in London would go ahead despite the threats in Vienna.

Taylor Swift’s fans, while disappointed by the cancellations, expressed support for the necessary measures to ensure public safety. Concert organizer Barracuda Music announced ticket refunds would be available, but emphasized the priority was the well-being of attendees.