An Austrian court on Thursday convicted a man of plotting an attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024.
The 21-year-old, identified in court documents as Beran A. under Austrian privacy rules, was found guilty of planning the assault and of forming a terror cell. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Beran A. is an Austrian citizen of North Macedonian descent. Before the court adjourned to deliver its verdict, he said, “I would just like to say that I am sorry.”
Prosecutors say Beran A. admitted in April that he planned an attack on the Ernst Happel Stadium in August 2024, when the venue was due to host three performances by Swift during her Eras tour. Authorities say he intended to carry out a jihad-inspired massacre of fans using knives and an explosive device.
Investigators allege that, prior to the planned attack, the defendant communicated with members of the Islamic State group about buying weapons and constructing bombs. Prosecutors also say he attempted to acquire weapons illegally in the days before the concert and swore allegiance to the militant group.
Beran A. was arrested on August 7, 2024, the day before the first scheduled concert. Police searched his apartment that day and reported finding materials that could be used to make explosives. All three of the Vienna concerts were cancelled, disappointing fans and Swift; she later described the cancellations as “devastating.”
Edited by: Sean Sinico