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Austrian jailed 15 years for planning Taylor Swift concert terror attack
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Austrian jailed 15 years for planning Taylor Swift concert terror attack

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A 21-year-old Austrian man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for planning a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.
  • The man, Beran A., confessed to planning the attack and stated he considered it his duty to perform jihad, having received instructions from the Islamic State.
  • Authorities believe he was part of a cell with two other men, one of whom attacked a police officer in Saudi Arabia.

An Austrian court sentenced a 21-year-old man to 15 years in prison for planning a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. Beran A. confessed to the charges, including those related to terrorism, and stated he believed it was his duty to carry out jihad.

The court in Wiener Neustadt found Beran A. guilty after a lengthy deliberation. He was on trial with a 21-year-old associate, Arda K., who was also found guilty and sentenced to 12 years. Authorities suspect the two, along with a third man named Hassan E., formed a cell planning attacks.

Beran A. admitted to receiving instructions from the Islamic State, which he joined in 2023, and attempting to build a bomb. He also traveled to Dubai in March 2024 with the intention of attacking security forces with knives but panicked and did not proceed. He and Arda K. had also planned attacks against police in Mecca, Istanbul, and Dubai. Hassan E. remained in Saudi Arabia, where he attacked a police officer and injured four others.

Security was tight at the courthouse, with officers wearing face coverings. The young men remained silent with heads bowed on the final day of the trial. Two experts testified that no signs of mental illness were found in Beran A. The suspect was arrested the day before the first scheduled concert after receiving information from U.S. law enforcement. Taylor Swift's three Vienna concerts were canceled as a precaution.

considered it his duty to 'do jihad'

— Beran A.The defendant's stated motivation for planning the attack.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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