A 21-year-old Austrian man has admitted his role in a foiled terror plot targeting a 2024 concert by Taylor Swift in Vienna, according to authorities.
The suspect, identified as Beran A, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday before a court in Wiener Neustadt, facing terrorism-related charges tied to the disrupted concert plan.
Investigators say the plot involved an intended jihadist attack during Swift’s scheduled performances at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna.
Prosecutors revealed that Beran A was arrested on August 7, 2024, following intelligence provided by the Central Intelligence Agency, just one day before the first concert.
The security threat led to the cancellation of all three sold-out shows, which were expected to attract more than 195,000 fans.
Even after the cancellations, thousands of fans gathered ברח Vienna, singing Swift’s songs and exchanging friendship bracelets in solidarity.
Beran A is being tried alongside another 21-year-old suspect, Arda K, whom prosecutors allege was part of the same network linked to the Islamic State. Authorities claim the group had wider ambitions, including possible attacks in cities such as Mecca, Istanbul, and Dubai.
According to investigators, Beran A had pledged allegiance to IS, circulated extremist content online, and attempted to secure weapons through illegal channels.
He is also accused of researching bomb-making techniques, including instructions for producing triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile explosive frequently associated with terrorist attacks.
Prosecutors further allege that he received direction from IS operatives and made repeated efforts to obtain firearms and explosives for use in Austria.
The planning phase is believed to have begun around July 21, 2024.
A third suspect, a teenager identified as Mohammed A in Germany, previously received an 18-month suspended sentence for assisting the plot.
Authorities said he helped translate bomb-making materials and facilitated contact between the main suspect and an IS operative.
If found guilty, the two Austrian defendants could each face up to 20 years in prison. Proceedings in the case are expected to run through late May.
