Man Convicted for Planning Attack on Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna
WIENER NEUSTADT, Austria — A 21-year-old Austrian man, identified in court records as Beran A., was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday after being found guilty of plotting an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, nearly two years ago. The state court in Wiener Neustadt, located south of Austria’s capital, handed down the verdict.
The thwarted plot led to the cancellation of Swift’s three scheduled performances in August 2024. Despite the disruption, the American singer’s fans, known as Swifties, gathered in central Vienna to exchange friendship bracelets and share their disappointment.
On the opening day of the trial last month, Beran A. admitted to the charges related to the concert plot. In his final remarks to the court, he expressed remorse, stating, “I would just like to say that I am sorry.”
Authorities allege that Beran A. intended to target concertgoers outside the Ernst Happel Stadium using knives or homemade explosives. The defendant also reportedly made connections with the Islamic State group, discussing the procurement of weapons and bomb-making. On August 7, 2024, a search of his apartment revealed bomb-making materials, leading to the cancellation of the concerts originally scheduled to begin the following day.
Swift responded to the cancellations with a statement on Instagram, expressing her fear and guilt over the situation: “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.”
Beran A. was not alone in his activities. He was tried alongside another 21-year-old, Arda K., whose full name has not been disclosed. Both were part of an alleged plan to carry out attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan 2024, acting on behalf of the Islamic State group. A third man, Hasan E., is currently in pretrial detention in Saudi Arabia, accused of stabbing a security officer in Mecca in March 2024.
While Beran A. was specifically charged in connection to the concert plot, both he and Arda K. were convicted of traveling and training for terrorist purposes, as well as being members of a terrorist organization. The court also found them guilty of contributing to attempted murder, connected to Hasan E.’s actions in Mecca, where he reportedly attacked and injured several individuals.
Following the verdict, Arda K. received a 12-year prison sentence. Both men remained composed as the sentences were announced. Beran A.’s attorney, Anna Mair, mentioned the possibility of discussing an appeal with her client in the coming days.
