Austrian ISIS Suspect Pleads Guilty to Taylor Swift Concert Plot
A 21-year-old Austrian citizen, identified only as Beran A under Austrian privacy laws, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges related to a foiled plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The defendant, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, faced charges including terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization. The plot, which targeted Swift's three performances in August 2024, was thwarted by Austrian authorities, but the concerts were canceled, devastating fans who had traveled globally for the Eras Tour. Swift described the cancellation as devastating, citing a new sense of fear. Austrian media outlets Kurier and Kronen Zeitung reported the guilty plea. The defendant and two other men also allegedly planned attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Key facts
- Beran A, a 21-year-old Austrian, pleaded guilty to charges related to a plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.
- The plot was foiled, but Swift's three Vienna concerts in August 2024 were canceled.
- The defendant pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.
- Charges included terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization.
- Two other men were also involved, with plans for attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE.
- Swift described the cancellation as devastating and said it gave her a new sense of fear.
- The trial began on Tuesday, with the plea reported by Kurier and Kronen Zeitung.
- The defendant's identity was limited to Beran A due to Austrian privacy rules.
Entities
Artists
- Taylor Swift
Institutions
- Islamic State
- Kurier
- Kronen Zeitung
- Le Monde
- CIA
- BBC
- Disney+
Locations
- Vienna
- Austria
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Wiener Neustadt
- Ernst Happl Stadium
- Mecca
- Istanbul
- Dubai
- Germany
- New York