An Austrian court has sentenced a 21-year-old man to 15 years in prison for planning a jihadist-inspired attack targeting a concert by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour in Vienna.
The defendant, identified under Austrian privacy laws as Beran A., was convicted of multiple terrorism-related offences after admitting to plotting the attack ahead of Swift’s scheduled performances in August 2024.
He was arrested on August 7, 2024, just a day before the first of three sold-out shows at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, in an operation authorities say was triggered by a CIA tip-off.
Security officials said the foiled plot led to the immediate cancellation of all three concerts, which were expected to attract nearly 200,000 fans, sending shockwaves through the global entertainment community and disappointing thousands of ticket holders.
During proceedings at the court in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna, the accused pleaded guilty and offered an apology, telling the court, “I would just like to say that I am sorry.” Prosecutors said he had become radicalised, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, and actively attempted to acquire weapons, including a machine gun and hand grenade, while also experimenting with explosive materials such as TATP.
A co-accused, Arda K., was also handed a 12-year prison sentence for related terrorism offences linked to the same extremist network. Swift later described the cancelled shows as “devastating,” adding that she was grateful authorities intervened in time to prevent what could have been a mass casualty attack.
Elijah Adeyemi
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