Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna Canceled to Protect Tens of Thousands of Fans
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Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna Canceled to Protect Tens of Thousands of Fans
Deputy Director of the CIA, David S. Cohen, revealed that the plan to attack Taylor Swift's concert in Austria by a group linked to ISIS was successfully foiled. (Instagram)
TENS of thousands of fans were the targets of a foiled terrorism attempt at a recent Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, a CIA official told reporters Wednesday (28/8).
CIA Deputy Director David S Cohen shared new details about the foiled terror plot that canceled all three of the 34-year-old singer's planned Eras Tour concerts in Austria earlier this month, during the annual Intelligence Summit outside Washington, D.C., reports The New York Timesand NBC News.
"They planned to kill a large number of people, tens of thousands of people at this concert, I believe many of them were Americans," Cohen said.
"The Austrians were able to make these arrests because our agents and partners in the intelligence community provided them with information about what this group associated with ISIS was planning," he continued.
Previously, concert promoter Barracuda Music announced the cancellation on August 7, writing they had "no choice but to cancel" shows on August 8, 9 and 10 to prioritize the safety of all attendees.
During the summit Wednesday, Cohen did not reveal how the CIA learned of the alleged plot, although the agency has been on alert for terrorist plots in other countries, according to the Times report. In a press conference on August 8, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of Austria's State Security and Intelligence Directorate, said the 19-year-old Austrian suspect admitted to intending to "carry out an attack" at Swift's concert "using explosives and a knife," according to NBC News, CNN, and Le Monde.
"His aim is to kill himself and a large number of people during a concert, either today or tomorrow," he added, according to Le Monde.
About 200,000 people are expected to attend the three shows, the Times reported.
In a lengthy post on Instagram after the European leg of her Eras Tour concluded, the singer shared why she initially chose to remain silent.
"The cancellation of our show in Vienna was devastating. The reason for the cancellation made me feel new fears, and immense guilt because so many people had planned to come to the show," he wrote in an August 21 post. "But I am also very grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we only lost concerts and not lives."
Swift and her team worked closely with British authorities to ensure that her five nights of concerts at Wembley Stadium in London went off without incident, she wrote. "Let me be very clear: I will not talk about something publicly if I think it might provoke those who want to harm the fans who come to my concerts," he continued.
"In cases like this, 'silence' actually shows self-control, and waiting to reveal oneself at the right time. My priority was to finish our European tour safely, and I can say with relief that we have done that." (People/Z-3)
Konser Taylor Swift di Wina Dibatalkan untuk Melindungi Puluhan Ribu Penggemar
PULUHAN ribu penggemar menjadi target upaya terorisme yang berhasil digagalkan pada konser Taylor Swift di Wina baru-baru ini, kata seorang pejabat CIA kepada wartawan, Rabu (28/8).
Wakil Direktur CIA David S Cohen membagikan rincian baru tentang plot teror yang digagalkan yang membatalkan semua tiga konser Eras Tour yang direncanakan penyanyi berusia 34 tahun tersebut di Austria awal bulan ini, selama KTT Intelijen tahunan di luar Washington, D.C., lapor The New York Times dan NBC News.
"Mereka berencana untuk membunuh sejumlah besar orang, puluhan ribu orang di konser ini, saya yakin banyak dari mereka adalah orang Amerika," kata Cohen.
"Orang-orang Austria berhasil melakukan penangkapan tersebut karena agen dan mitra kami dalam komunitas intelijen memberi mereka informasi tentang apa yang direncanakan oleh kelompok yang terkait dengan ISIS ini," lanjutnya.
Sebelumnya, promotor konser Barracuda Music mengumumkan pembatalan pada 7 Agustus, dengan menulis mereka "tidak punya pilihan lain selain membatalkan" pertunjukan pada 8, 9, dan 10 Agustus untuk memprioritaskan keselamatan semua pengunjung.
Selama KTT, Rabu, Cohen tidak mengungkapkan bagaimana CIA mengetahui dugaan plot tersebut, meskipun agensi tersebut telah waspada terhadap rencana teroris di negara lain, menurut laporan Times.
Dalam konferensi pers pada 8 Agustus, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, kepala Direktorat Keamanan Negara dan Intelijen Austria, mengatakan tersangka Austria berusia 19 tahun itu mengakui berniat "melakukan serangan" di konser Swift "menggunakan bahan peledak dan pisau," menurut NBC News, CNN, dan Le Monde.
"Tujuannya adalah untuk membunuh dirinya sendiri dan sejumlah besar orang selama konser, baik hari ini atau besok," tambahnya, menurut Le Monde.
Sekitar 200.000 orang diharapkan hadir di ketiga pertunjukan tersebut, menurut laporan Times.
Dalam unggahan panjang di Instagram setelah tur Eropa dari Eras Tour-nya selesai, penyanyi tersebut membagikan alasannya awalnya memilih untuk tetap diam.
"Pembatalan pertunjukan kami di Wina sangat menghancurkan. Alasan pembatalan tersebut membuat saya merasakan ketakutan baru, dan rasa bersalah yang besar karena begitu banyak orang yang telah merencanakan untuk datang ke pertunjukan itu," tulisnya dalam unggahan pada 21 Agustus.
"Namun saya juga sangat berterima kasih kepada pihak berwenang karena berkat mereka, kami hanya kehilangan konser dan bukan nyawa."
Swift dan timnya bekerja sama erat dengan pihak berwenang Inggris untuk memastikan bahwa lima malam konsernya di Stadion Wembley di London berlangsung tanpa insiden, tulisnya.
"Biarkan saya sangat jelas: Saya tidak akan berbicara tentang sesuatu secara publik jika saya pikir itu mungkin memprovokasi mereka yang ingin menyakiti para penggemar yang datang ke konser saya," lanjutnya.
"Dalam kasus seperti ini, 'diam' sebenarnya menunjukkan pengendalian diri, dan menunggu untuk mengungkapkan diri pada waktu yang tepat. Prioritas saya adalah menyelesaikan tur Eropa kami dengan aman, dan dengan lega saya dapat mengatakan bahwa kami telah melakukannya." (People/Z-3)