Recently, the CIA revealed that a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna aimed to kill tens of thousands of fans. The intelligence agency discovered crucial information that disrupted the planning and led to the arrests of the suspects. The suspects allegedly had ties to the Islamic State group.
The CIA's notification to Austrian authorities about the scheme resulted in the cancellation of three sold-out Eras Tour shows. This decision left fans who had traveled from around the world to see Swift in concert devastated.
The main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian man, was reportedly inspired by the Islamic State group. He planned to carry out the attack outside the stadium using knives or homemade explosives, with around 30,000 fans expected to gather outside and 65,000 inside the venue.
Chemical substances and technical devices were discovered during a raid of the suspect's home. Austrian officials mentioned that assistance from other intelligence agencies was crucial due to legal limitations on monitoring text messages in Austria.
Swift expressed her feelings about the cancellations, stating that the news filled her with fear and guilt. She thanked the authorities for their actions, emphasizing that the cancellations were a loss of concerts rather than lives.
The concert organizer, Barracuda Music, canceled the Vienna shows due to the arrests being too close to showtime. The suspects, including the main suspect and two others, were taken into custody in early August.
The Vienna plot drew comparisons to the 2017 attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. The CIA's efforts in preventing the planned violence were commended by Deputy Director David Cohen, highlighting the agency's success in thwarting such plots.
Swift's record-breaking tour is currently on hiatus until the fall, following these unsettling events.
