Man jailed for 15 years over plot to attack Taylor Swift concert in Vienna

A 21-year-old Austrian man has received a 15-year prison sentence for planning a jihadist attack targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The man, identified as Beran A, pleaded guilty to the plot and other terrorism-related charges, including involvement in an attack in Mecca.

The planned attack was aimed at one of Taylor Swift's Eras tour concerts scheduled for August 2024 at Vienna's Ernst Happel stadium. Authorities apprehended Beran A following a tip-off from the CIA, just days before the concerts were set to begin. The singer's three sold-out shows in Vienna, which were expected to draw nearly 200,000 fans, were subsequently canceled, causing widespread dismay.

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I am sorry.

Prosecutors revealed that Beran A had become radicalized and had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. Investigations indicated he attempted to illegally acquire weapons, including a machine gun and a hand grenade, but was unsuccessful. A court psychiatrist testified that Beran A showed no signs of mental illness, stating there was "no psychiatric explanation" for his radicalization.

Beran A stood trial alongside another 21-year-old man, Arda K from Slovakia, who was accused of being part of an IS cell but was not directly involved in the Taylor Swift plot. The court in Wiener Neustadt heard that Beran A expressed remorse before the jury began deliberations.

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There was no psychiatric explanation for his radicalisation.