An Austrian court has sentenced a 21-year-old man to 15 years in prison for plotting a terrorist attack on Taylor Swift's concert in Vienna during her Eras Tour in August 2024. The defendant, identified only as Beran A. due to Austrian privacy laws, was found guilty of planning to use knives and homemade explosives to kill fans at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
The plot was foiled by authorities, leading to the cancellation of Swift's three sold-out shows. Beran A. had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State and communicated with its members. In court, he expressed remorse, stating, 'I would just like to say that I am sorry.'
A co-defendant, known as Arda K., who traveled to Istanbul to carry out a separate attack, received a 12-year sentence. While a court psychiatrist found no mental illness, the judge described the plan as 'ideologically motivated'.