CIA official says Taylor Swift Vienna concert terror plot intended to kill 'tens of thousands of people'

VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Individuals arrested in connection to a planned terrorist attack targeting Taylor Swift’s Vienna concert intended to kill "tens of thousands of people," as revealed by a CIA official on Wednesday, August 28. 

The failed terror plot led to the cancellation of all three of the singer’s Eras Tour concerts in Austria earlier in August, according to the New York Times.

CIA official shares details about foiled Taylor Swift's Vienna concert terrorist attack

At the annual Intelligence Summit, held just outside Washington, DC, CIA Deputy Director David S Cohen shared, "They were plotting to kill a huge number, tens of thousands of people at this concert, I am sure many Americans."

He added, "The Austrians were able to make those arrests because the agency and our partners in the intelligence community provided them information about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do."

However, Cohen did not reveal how the CIA got the information about the alleged plot.

Three people were arrested by the Austrian authorities, including a 19-year-old Austrian, a 17-year-old Austrian and an 18-year-old Iraqi. The officials had added that the plot was likely connected to the Islamic State. 

Austrian official said one suspect aimed to kill himself and a large number of people during a concert 

Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of Austria's Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, mentioned during a news conference on August 8 that the 19-year-old Austrian suspect admitted to intending "to carry out an attack" at Taylor Swift's concert "using explosives and knives," according to Le Monde.

He noted, "His aim was to kill himself and a large number of people during the concert either today or tomorrow."

Around 200,000 people were expected to attend the three shows combined, according to the New York Times.

Taylor Swift said the foiled Vienna concert terror plot filled her with a 'new sense of fear'

Taylor Swift recently broke her silence on the incident in a lengthy Instagram post. She wrote, "Having our Vienna shows canceled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows."

"But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives," added the 'Lover' singer. 

Swift also said that she, along with her team, worked closely with British authorities to make sure that her five nights at London’s Wembley Stadium ran without any incident.

"Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows," mentioned the pop star. 

Explaining why she waited to comment on the foiled terror plot, Swift stated, "In cases like this one, 'silence' is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that."