Vienna
CIA: Terrorists wanted to kill tens of thousands of fans at Swift concert
A police car stands near assembled Taylor Swift fans in Vienna in early August
© Heinz-Peter Bader / AP / DPA
Superstar Taylor Swift’s performances in Vienna had to be cancelled due to suspected attack plans. According to the CIA, a huge massacre was planned.
After the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna due to the risk of an attack, the US secret service CIA has provided insight into details of the terrorist threat. According to the report, the terrorists were planning a huge massacre of the audience.
“They planned to kill large numbers, tens of thousands of people, at this concert,” said Deputy CIA Director David S. Cohen at an intelligence summit in Washington. Cohen also confirmed that the US foreign intelligence service had tipped off the Austrian authorities about the terror plans.
Stadium would have been filled with 60,000 Taylor Swift fans
Swift’s (34) three planned concerts at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna were canceled at short notice at the beginning of August due to the threat of terrorism. Authorities had previously arrested two young men. According to Austrian investigations, a 19-year-old is said to have planned to drive explosives and a car into the crowd of Swift fans in front of the stadium. He had previously sworn allegiance to the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) online.
There would have been more than 60,000 people in the sold-out stadium. In addition, tens of thousands of other fans who had not managed to get their hands on one of the coveted tickets would probably have gathered around the stadium for parties.
The suspects are in custody. The 19-year-old main suspect and his younger alleged accomplice are being investigated on suspicion of membership in a terrorist group and criminal organization.