A 21-year-old Austrian man has admitted to planning a jihadist attack at a 2024 concert by American pop star Taylor Swift in Vienna.
The suspect, identified as Beran A, appeared before a court in Wiener Neustadt on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges connected to the foiled plot.
According to reports by Austrian media outlets, the suspect was arrested on August 7, 2024, after intelligence provided by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), just a day before Swift’s scheduled performance.
The planned attack forced the cancellation of three sold-out shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, where about 195,000 fans were expected to attend.
Despite the cancellations, fans gathered across the city, singing the singer’s songs and sharing friendship bracelets in a show of solidarity.
Beran A is being tried alongside another suspect, Arda K, also 21, whom prosecutors say was part of the same terror network linked to the Islamic State (IS).
Authorities allege that the duo had broader plans targeting other cities, including Mecca, Istanbul, and Dubai.
Prosecutors further claimed that Beran A pledged allegiance to IS, shared extremist propaganda online, and sought to illegally obtain weapons.
He is also accused of accessing bomb-making guides, including instructions for producing explosives using triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a substance frequently linked to terrorist attacks.
Investigators said he received training from IS operatives and made several attempts to acquire firearms and a grenade through illegal channels.
The alleged plot is believed to have begun no later than July 21, 2024.
If found guilty, the suspects could face up to 20 years in prison.
In a related development, a teenager in Germany was earlier given an 18-month suspended sentence for aiding the plot. Prosecutors said the Syrian national helped translate bomb-making materials and connected the main suspect with an IS member.
The trial is expected to continue until late May.
