An Austrian court has convicted a man of planning to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna nearly two years ago. The state court in Wiener Neustadt found the 21-year-old defendant, an Austrian citizen identified only as Beran A. under Austrian privacy rules, guilty on charges including those related to the concert plot, according to the Austria Press Agency.
Apology and Verdict
Earlier Thursday, before the verdict was delivered, Beran A. told the court that he was sorry. The plot was thwarted, but Austrian authorities still canceled Swift's three performances scheduled for August 2024. The defendant faced charges including terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization. His defense attorney stated that he pleaded guilty to the concert-related charges during the opening day of the trial last month. He could face up to 20 years in prison.
Impact on Fans
Tens of thousands of Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, had traveled to Austria to attend the American singer's record-setting Eras Tour. Devastated by the cancellations, many gathered in central Vienna to trade friendship bracelets and commiserate about the lost performances.
IS Links and Broader Plot
Beran A. was said to have networked with other members of the Islamic State group ahead of the planned attack. Prosecutors said they discussed purchasing weapons and making bombs, and that the defendant also sought to illegally buy weapons in the days before the performance, as well as swearing allegiance to the militant group. He was on trial alongside Arda K., whose full name has also not been made public. They, along with a third man arrested and held in pretrial detention in Saudi Arabia, allegedly planned to carry out simultaneous attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan 2024 in the name of IS. Only Beran A. was charged in connection with the concert plot. He pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the simultaneous attack plot.
Closing Arguments
In closing arguments Thursday at the state court in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna, prosecutors called for the men's conviction. Beran A.'s defense lawyer, Anna Mair, told the court that her client was "not an ideological mastermind." In short final words to the court before it adjourned to consider a verdict, Beran A. said: "I would just like to say that I am sorry."
