Austrian Man Admits Guilt in Foiled Plot to Attack Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna

A 21-year-old Austrian citizen named Beran A. pleaded guilty to charges related to a plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in August 2024, Austrian media outlets Kurier and Kronen Zeitung reported as his trial began on Tuesday in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Beran A. Faces charges including terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. , against whom prosecutors have filed terrorism-related charges. Anna Mair, Beran A's lawyer, said on Monday that her client plans to plead guilty to most of the charges.

Beran A. allegedly planned to target onlookers outside Ernst Happel Stadium with knives or homemade explosives. Up to 30,000 onlookers gathered outside the stadium each night, with another 65,000 inside the venue.

Authorities said in 2024 that the suspect hoped to kill as many people as possible. U.S. provided intelligence that fed into the decision to cancel the concerts. Beran A. allegedly networked with other members of Islamic State before the planned attack.

Prosecutors say Beran A. and others discussed buying weapons and making bombs. Beran A. sought to illegally buy weapons in the days before the performance, prosecutors said. Beran A. swore allegiance to the Islamic State group, according to prosecutors.

Authorities searched Beran A's home on 7 August 2024 and found bomb-making materials. Taylor Swift's three performances in Vienna were scheduled to begin on 8 August 2024 as part of her Eras Tour. Austrian authorities canceled Taylor Swift's three performances in Vienna in August 2024.

““Having our Vienna shows cancelled 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.””