Man jailed over plot to attack Taylor Swift concert in Vienna
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- A 21-year-old Austrian man, identified as Beran A, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for planning a jihadist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna during her Eras tour in August 2024.
- Beran A was also found guilty of multiple terrorism-related offenses and had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), attempting but failing to illegally acquire weapons such as a machine gun and hand grenade.
- The plot was foiled following a CIA tip-off, leading to the cancellation of all three sold-out Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, disappointing nearly 200,000 fans and the singer herself.
- A court psychiatrist confirmed Beran A showed no signs of mental illness, attributing his radicalization solely to ideological reasons.
- Another 21-year-old, Arda K from Slovakia, linked to the same IS cell but not involved in the concert plot, received a 12-year prison sentence.