A 21-year-old Austrian man has gone on trial accused of planning a terrorist attack at a concert by Taylor Swift in Vienna in August 2024.
The suspect, identified as Beran A., appeared in court in Wiener Neustadt facing charges linked to terrorism and weapons offences. Prosecutors said he planned and prepared an attack targeting Swift’s shows at Ernst Happel Stadium.
Authorities said he was arrested on 7 August, a day before the first concert, after a tip-off from the Central Intelligence Agency. The alert led to the cancellation of all three sold-out shows, with more than 195,000 fans expected to attend.
Prosecutors stated that the suspect pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and spread its propaganda online. He is accused of learning how to build explosives and attempting to buy firearms and a hand grenade through illegal channels.
Investigators said he planned to use a shrapnel bomb made with triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP, a substance linked to past extremist attacks.
A second defendant, Arda K., also 21, is on trial in the same court. Prosecutors said both men were part of an extremist cell and discussed other potential targets in cities including Mecca, Istanbul and Dubai.
Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
A third individual, identified as Mohammed A., was previously given a suspended sentence in Germany for assisting the plot. Prosecutors said he translated bomb-making instructions and linked the main suspect to an extremist contact.
Swift later spoke about the incident, saying the tour narrowly avoided mass casualties.
“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.”
The trial is expected to continue until late May.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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