“They were plotting to kill tens of thousands of people at this concert, including many Americans. Their plan was somewhat advanced before it was stopped,” CIA Deputy Director David Cohen said on August 28, referring to three shows of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Vienna, Austria.

Austrian authorities had previously announced the cancellation of the concerts, after receiving a warning from the CIA about a terrorist plot to attack the Ernst Happel Stadium, where the concerts were scheduled to take place.

Austrian police have arrested three suspects, aged 15, 17 and 19, who are believed to have links to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and al-Qaeda. The 19-year-old suspect, originally from North Macedonia, is believed to be the mastermind.

The suspect apparently planned to attack the crowd outside the stadium, where 30,000 Taylor Swift fans were expected to gather, using knives and homemade explosives.

“Austrian authorities were able to apprehend the suspects thanks to information provided by the CIA and partners in the intelligence community,” Mr. Cohen added, saying this helped prevent the terrorist attack.

Two weeks after her Austrian tour was canceled, Taylor Swift said the cancellations left her feeling scared and guilty because so many fans had planned to see her perform. She also thanked authorities for foiling a terrorist attack.

Taylor Swift’s three concerts were scheduled for August 8-10. Officials estimated that 65,000 people were expected to enter the stadium each night, with another 15,000 people left without tickets. The concerts were part of her Eras Tour, which began in the United States on March 17, 2023, and was scheduled to end in Canada on December 8.