An Austrian court is expected to deliver judgment on Thursday in the trial of a 21-year-old man accused of plotting a failed jihadist attack on a concert by Taylor Swift in Vienna.
The planned attack led to the cancellation of three Vienna dates of Swift’s “Eras” tour in the summer of 2024 after authorities uncovered an alleged Islamic State-linked terror plot.
The suspect, identified as Beran A., is facing terrorism-related charges before a court in Wiener Neustadt, outside Vienna. He has pleaded guilty to all charges except being an accomplice to attempted murder.
Beran A. was arrested a day before the scheduled concert and has remained in detention since then.
Prosecutors alleged that Beran A., alongside co-defendant Arda K. and another Austrian suspect, Hasan E., formed what they described as a “highly dangerous” Islamic State terror cell planning multiple attacks in the name of ISIS.
According to investigators, Beran A. selected Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium as the target because of the large crowd expected at the concert. He allegedly sought instructions online on bomb-making and weapons selection through extremist chat groups and contacts linked to the Islamic State group.
During his testimony, Beran A. admitted he had become convinced he “had to wage jihad” but claimed he was afraid of dying.
Psychological experts who testified in court reportedly found no evidence of serious mental illness.
If convicted on all counts, Beran A. could face up to 20 years in prison. However, if acquitted of the attempted murder-related charge, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Authorities said the Swift concert attack plot was foiled with assistance from U.S. intelligence agencies.
Following the cancellation of the concerts, Swift said the incident left her with “a new sense of fear” and guilt over disappointed fans who had planned to attend the shows.
Last year, a Berlin court also convicted a Syrian teenager for contributing to the concert attack plot and handed him an 18-month suspended sentence.