Recent attacks in Europe are putting a spotlight on the sort of terrorism threats that U.S. officials have warned about. Most recently, two suspects, apparently inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, were arrested in connection to an apparent plot to attack Taylor Swift shows in Vienna, Austria. On August 8, Principal and Head of Security Risk & Resilience Ben Joelson, who served previously as a U.S. Air Force security forces officer, and Former CIA staffer Tracy Walder joined NewsNation’s Jesse Weber on Cuomo to discuss.
Joelson said, “This is an averted tragedy thanks to the collaboration that we have with international partners from a law enforcement and intelligence perspective.”
A Chertoff Group expert in large-scale event security planning, Joelson explained that event planners are always looking to push the security perimeter further out and get people inside the venue safely and efficiently. This is a challenge with 65,000 people and could have contributed to the decision to cancel the concerts.
Weber asked both guests, “Is it safe to see Taylor Swift?” Security professionals say yes. Ben Joelson, head of security risk and resilience at The Chertoff Group, said the foiled terror plot in Austria “is an example of the system working.” Former FBI and CIA agent Tracy Walder, who has taken her child to see Swift perform, added, “If we stop living, then the terrorists win.”
Swift is scheduled to perform five concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium later this month.
Watch the full interview here.
