CIA: Terrorists aimed to kill ‘tens of thousands’ at Taylor Swift concert
The individuals involved in the plot were apprehended prior to executing an attack on the pop star’s concert in Vienna earlier this month. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The plotters were apprehended before they could execute an attack on a pop star's concert in Vienna earlier this month.
According to CIA Deputy Director David Cohen, the terrorists intended to inflict casualties on “as many people as possible” with homemade explosives and knives at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna earlier this month. He added that the U.S. intelligence agency alerted Austrian authorities about the potential attack.
Cohen stated that the assailants, linked to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), “were plotting to kill a huge number – tens of thousands of people, including, I am sure, many Americans – and were quite advanced in this.”
He emphasized that Austrian security forces successfully arrested the suspects due to information provided by the CIA and “our partners in the intelligence community about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do.”
“I can tell you within my agency, and I’m sure in others, there were people who thought that was a really good day for Langley, and not just the Swifties in my workforce,” Cohen remarked at an intelligence summit near Washington, D.C.
Reports indicate that the attackers intended to target one of three Swift concerts scheduled to commence on August 8 as part of the European leg of her Eras Tour. However, following the authorities' warning about the foiled plot, event organizers Barracuda Music decided to cancel the shows.
The primary suspect in the alleged conspiracy was arrested on August 6, along with a 17-year-old accomplice, as confirmed by Austrian officials. An additional suspect, aged 18, was also detained on August 8.
Authorities revealed that the unnamed mastermind behind the attack, reported to be 19 years old, had pledged allegiance to IS after being self-radicalized online.
The attack was reportedly planned to occur outside the stadium, which could have hosted as many as 65,000 attendees. Police indicated that the terrorists intended to execute their plot using knives and a homemade explosive device, having discovered chemical substances and technical devices at the residence of the 19-year-old.
The main suspect allegedly confessed to the intention of planning to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert,” according to Austrian officials.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to CIA Deputy Director David Cohen, the terrorists intended to inflict casualties on “as many people as possible” with homemade explosives and knives at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna earlier this month. He added that the U.S. intelligence agency alerted Austrian authorities about the potential attack.
Cohen stated that the assailants, linked to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), “were plotting to kill a huge number – tens of thousands of people, including, I am sure, many Americans – and were quite advanced in this.”
He emphasized that Austrian security forces successfully arrested the suspects due to information provided by the CIA and “our partners in the intelligence community about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do.”
“I can tell you within my agency, and I’m sure in others, there were people who thought that was a really good day for Langley, and not just the Swifties in my workforce,” Cohen remarked at an intelligence summit near Washington, D.C.
Reports indicate that the attackers intended to target one of three Swift concerts scheduled to commence on August 8 as part of the European leg of her Eras Tour. However, following the authorities' warning about the foiled plot, event organizers Barracuda Music decided to cancel the shows.
The primary suspect in the alleged conspiracy was arrested on August 6, along with a 17-year-old accomplice, as confirmed by Austrian officials. An additional suspect, aged 18, was also detained on August 8.
Authorities revealed that the unnamed mastermind behind the attack, reported to be 19 years old, had pledged allegiance to IS after being self-radicalized online.
The attack was reportedly planned to occur outside the stadium, which could have hosted as many as 65,000 attendees. Police indicated that the terrorists intended to execute their plot using knives and a homemade explosive device, having discovered chemical substances and technical devices at the residence of the 19-year-old.
The main suspect allegedly confessed to the intention of planning to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert,” according to Austrian officials.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
