An Austrian man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for plotting an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. Beran A, 21, pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges, including planning to target fans outside the stadium in August 2024.
The state court in Wiener Neustadt found him guilty on most of the 15 charges. He was arrested on 7 August 2024, the day before the first of three scheduled concerts, which were subsequently cancelled. Swift described the cancellations as 'devastating'.
Beran A admitted to attempting to buy a machine gun and hand grenade, and following an Islamic State video to produce the explosive TATP. He also confessed to travelling to Dubai in March 2024 with the intention of carrying out a stabbing attack but suffered a panic attack and did not follow through.
The court also convicted co-defendant Arda K, who was sentenced to 12 years for related offences. Both men denied providing moral support to a third individual arrested in Mecca for stabbing a security official at the Grand Mosque.
Beran A expressed remorse, saying, 'I would just like to say that I am sorry.' His lawyer argued he was not a leader or ideological mastermind, but the jury found him guilty on all but two charges.
