Taylor Swift had three concerts scheduled in Vienna in early August that had to be canceled last minute when Austrian authorities uncovered a planned terrorist attack. Taylor did not make any public statements at the time, which was the safe and soundest thing to do while law enforcement worked to apprehend the suspect. Taylor ended up not commenting on what happened until a few weeks later, after she’d completed the European leg of the Eras Tour with her second stop in London. Now the CIA is confirming just how serious the situation was. While speaking at a security summit this week, the deputy director characterized the terrorist plot as “serious” and “quite advanced,” and that it had the potential to kill tens of thousands of people. Thank goodness everyone took the right steps to ensure that it didn’t.
The planned terrorist plot at Taylor Swift’s shows in Vienna earlier this month was intended to kill “tens of thousands” of fans, according to the deputy director of the CIA.
“They were plotting to kill a huge number, tens of thousands of people at this concert, I am sure many Americans,” CIA Deputy Director David S. Cohen said on Wednesday after revealing at the Intelligence and National Security Summit that the information Austrian authorities used to stop the terror plot was given to the CIA.
He also noted at the summit held in Maryland that those who planned the attack “were quite advanced in this.”
On Aug. 7, Austrian authorities arrested two people accused of plotting a terror attack, with additional arrests made in subsequent days. Some of the individuals arrested were found with bomb-making materials and had access to the concert venue, where several shows were scheduled to take place in the days following the arrests.
Austrian officials said the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian man, was inspired by the Islamic State group. He allegedly planned to attack outside the stadium, where upwards of 30,000 fans were expected to gather, with another 65,000 likely to be inside the venue. Investigators discovered chemical substances and technical devices during a raid of the suspect’s home.
Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner, previously stated that help from other intelligence agencies was necessary because Austrian investigators, unlike some foreign services, cannot legally monitor text messages.
The main suspect’s lawyer claimed the allegations were “overacting at its best,” arguing that Austrian authorities were “presenting this exaggeratedly” to push for new surveillance powers.
Swift had been planning to hold three concerts in Vienna beginning Aug. 8, with 200,000 people expected to attend. Last week, in a social media post, the singer broke her silence about the cancellations after concluding her London shows at Wembley Stadium.
“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “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.”
Further on in Taylor’s Instagram post she made it very clear that her silence had been intentional. “My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that.” That’s absolutely right. Canceling the shows, cooperating with law enforcement, and not commenting until the entire tour leg was over protected the lives of her fans and everyone who works on the tour. And it sounds like the CIA stepped in fairly quickly to assist the Austrian authorities. This is a whole other conversation, but I find that detail on Austrians not being allowed to monitor their citizens’ text messages rather fascinating.
Photos credit: Mike Gray / Avalon, Justin Ng / Avalon. Photos of fans are from Wembley Stadium in London in June
It’s really fortunate the Austrian authorities discovered what was happening beforehand.
I hate that she feels guilty about this. It wasn’t based on anything she had done. It was just a large gathering that drew attention from the wrong people.
I cannot imagine the huge responsibility she feels for the safety of her fans. The death of those young girls in England was horrific enough but then to be told of a plot to kill tens of thousands at her Austrian shows. That must weigh heavily on her. She is always so grateful to her fans and the thought that they could die because of attending her concerts is unimaginable. She displayed exemplary courage to still hold the London concerts so soon after. She really can do it with a broken heart.
That was a really great statement she put out on Instagram. Fully acknowledged the devastation people felt at having the shows cancelled, but grateful to law enforcement for ensuring public safety — “thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.”
People keep commenting that Taylor Swift should publicly condemn x or y, and that she is free to say and do whatever she wants because of her wealth and privilege. But that’s not actually true. She is responsible for the safety of the millions of people who attend her concerts, many of them kids. She also needs to keep her band and crew safe. That level of responsibility is terrifying to me. She also deals with stalkers and personal death threats every day of her life.
I was disgusted by the tantrums thrown by some of the “fans” in Vienna, condemning her for not speaking sooner… when it was literally an ongoing investigation. Ditto the screaming from both sides of the Gaza-Israel conflict – as if whatever she said wouldn’t be seized on by bad actors on either side. She’s not going to put the safety of her audience at risk.
People need to stop expecting a pop singer to solve all the problems in the world. I would’ve had a nervous breakdown living under that kind of pressure.
I keep my social media pretty a**hole free (on threads we block early and often- mostly to ignore bigots)
But I kept seeing swifties horrified by other swifties anger/tantrums and not the actual offending threads. And I thought / they must be exaggerating.
And then I saw a few. I was horrified.
Angry at TS for cancelling and not making an immediate statement to them??? angry at TS for not making it up to them in some tangible way???
I know they were a vocal minority. And if I had eras tickets and my show was cancelled I would be CRUSHED. There would be 52yo tears.
But to blame TS? Insane, entitled and not thinking about dead body and lost limb consequences.
In her statement, she said it better than anyone – rather be mourning concerts than lives. (Paraphrasing)
And I kept thinking of the 22 hat kids (look it up if you’ve never seen a clip of one, it’s the sweetest thing ever) – and not that the rest of our lives are worth any less / but when I think of bombing victims at that show – those dancing, ecstatic children are who I am thinking about.
She was right to cancel, right to be silent through the London shows, and right to note her gratitude to police and intelligence authorities for knowing and acting.
We are all grateful for that.
I know the internet gives every unhappy malcontent a voice/ but it makes me angry.
No artist deserves criticism for actions taken under threat of terrorism.
I’m not a “Swiftie” (crusty Gen Xer) though I respect TS and like a few albums – but that nonsense keeps popping up in my social media for some reason.
I remember travelling interstate to a Jane’s Addiction concert back in the day (before cell phones), only to find out from a note TAPED TO THE VENUE DOOR – that the show had been cancelled. The reason? Band members’ drug idiocy.
For people to be throwing a tantrum about a concert cancelled due to a major terrorist plot… the mind boggles.
Amen Ariel. Amen.
Consequently I think TS will encourage ppl to vote but I’m not sure she will outright endorse Harris. Too many crazies and she and her now extended family of Kelce’s and KC are all at risk if a nutter gets offended and wants to inflict harm.
It’s a ton of responsibility. It’s good that she’s developing boundaries and honestly we all should too.
@Kath That is one of the most GenX stories I have ever heard! My crusty GenX heart just grew very slightly.
Lol, Salmonpuff! Word.
People just need to look at what happened in Manchester to Ariana Grande’s fans – TS did everything right, she put the safety of her fans, general public, crew and stadium/local officials first.
Am sure these same fans would have been screaming from the rooftops about cancelling if there was a horrible event that took lives. Taylor owes them nothing and they should get a grip – the fans do not own her.
I’m convinced a big chunk of Taylor Swift’s “fans” actually hate her.
Kath- i think that too- on social media anyway. Sometimes someone will leave an ugly reply comment – and i’ll go to their profile, and they have zero actual threads, but tons of replies, all mean spirited- just being contrary and nasty is their purpose.
And i feel sorry for them, and i immediately block them.
I definitely think some of those jerks were involved.
But also actual- buy her albums fans- i do think many fandoms have people who for whatever reason, feel their adoration entitles them to a piece of their idol. Ms. Roan, the young singer, has been speaking eloquently on that recently.
Stalking is not a fandom.
You want to see your star when they are at a public event- absolutely.
Waiting outside their home- stalker.
I am glad these younger generations are creating good boundaries.
Wait, people are mad because Taylor didn’t make a statement about the planned attack in the midst of an ongoing international terrorist investigation??
I’m far from a fan as you all know and even for me that just boggles my mind. Of course she didn’t say anything.
I think the safety of her fans is the reason why she wont endorse Harris until her tour is finished (two days before the election).
One crazy right wing extremist with a gun can kill hundreds of her fans Wartung outside, no matter how good the security inside.
Her tour doesn’t wrap up until December so I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t endorse anyone or put out a general “Vote” statement. But you never know.
As someone going to one of the concerts in November and feeling super worried about security, I’m really glad that she isn’t getting involved in politics and endorsements just yet.
A friend of mine is progressive, very into politics. She’s also a swiftie and is going to her show in Indianapolis. She shared with me that she’s a little relieved that Taylor hasn’t openly endorsed Kamala yet because her concert is right before the election, and she’s worried about a MAGA person retaliating at one of the concerts.
It’s crazy to me that people are still mad she didn’t come out and make a statement about Vienna, its own post, a speech at a concert, etc. The entitlement of “fans” blows my mind.
I think sometimes folks hold celebrities (especially Taylor) with too high of expectations. She has said and demonstrated that keeping people safe at her concerts is a top priority. She has concerts scheduled through December with thousands and thousands of people planning to be in attendance. I would be surprised to see her make any political statements. And I hope that people on the internet will stop tearing her apart for it.
Terrorist attacks at concerts, like the one in Paris and the bombing at Ariana Grande’s Manchester show, always hit me hard. For many music lovers, myself included, going to live shows can be almost therapeutic, and it’s gutwreching and infuriating that there are people who want to desecrate that space. Particularly when the artists, like Taylor and Ariana, have a large fanbase of children.
As I said yesterday, I think Taylor is still reeling from this. Who WOULDN’T be? And that’s probably why she hasn’t endorsed Kamala or made any kind of political statements. I don’t know if her silence is self-imposed, or because she’s been advised by authorities to keep a lower profile until she finishes her final tour dates (my husband is in the field of private security and intelligence, and says that is what he’d advise), but whatever the reason, it’s understandable. I know many people want her to do the “brave” thing and come out swinging and defiant, but it’s not that simple when she’s responsible for the safety of tens of thousands of people.
As someone else said – this one is particularly scary bc it’s aimed at young women.
For sure. It will be labeled as “Islamic extremism”, but people often forget the misogyny that entails. When you plan to attack a concert of Taylor’s or Ariana’s, that misogyny is pretty blatant.
The last sentence just made me gasp, of course my country is not allowed to monitor my texts!
But the trick is – other countries can, and that’s how they solve things in the world, it is an international agreement, but nobody talks about it.
Taylor did absolutely everything right – she is smart, she cares, and she is long in the business, this just confirmed she is always careful for a reason.
Taylor & the Austrians did the right thing and she’s smart enough to avoid any statements or activities remotely political.
Knowing her previously expressed opinions of Trump, Biden, etc., I’m sure it grates that she has stay quiet & put up with Brittany Magahomes’ proximity but she needs to stay safe & under the radar.
To be clear, though, she’s not “putting up with Brittany’s proximity” – she invited her to her beachhouse for a weekend at what looked like a fairly exclusive gathering.
I see it as needing to professionally support her partner. Travis and Patrick aren’t just teammates. Their positions work closely together, they need to be on the same wavelength. If Travis wants to socialize with Patrick, as he did before Taylor, he and his wife are a package deal. Taylor having issues with Britney causes problems for Travis and Patrick, and she’s professional enough to recognize that their relationship is crucial to making their team successful.
I might be wrong but the whole monitoring citizens’ text messages is mainly an american thing. Like in Europe I believe that there are laws (at the European level) that prevent your messages being accessed but again I might be totally wrong.
In France I know that it’s frequent that you hear about terrorist plots being avoided but I don’t really know how they actually manage to gather the information.
The UK allows monitoring under the Investigatory Powers Act. France monitors under the Law on Intelligence. Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands also have acts for preventing terrorism.
I literally can’t understand the abuse TS gets on this page. People clearly loathe her and simultaneously want her to save the universe. I think many celebitchy people are frankly sad or deluded.
Anyway, you’re all sad and psychos I guess, based on readings. What the hell is wrong with you all!
Thank God for Israel who seems to the be the only country in the world fighting to dismantle these Islamic terrorist groups.