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. 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.””

“— Taylor Swift, in a statement posted to Instagram two weeks after the cancellation. The trial is being held in Wiener Neustadt, about an hour south of Vienna. The trial proceedings are due to continue until 12 May. Prosecutors say Beran A. received training from members of jihadist group Islamic State on how to handle explosives. Prosecutors allege that Beran A., Arda K., and Hasan E. planned to carry out simultaneous attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan in 2024 in the name of Islamic State. Hasan E. allegedly stabbed a security guard with a knife at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on 11 March 2024, Austrian prosecutors said. Hasan E. was arrested and remains in pre-trial detention in Saudi Arabia, according to Austrian prosecutors. Beran A. and Arda K. did not carry out their plans in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.”