Man Who Plotted Jihadist Attack on Taylor Swift’s Vienna Concerts Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
An Austrian court has sentenced Beran A., 21, to 15 years in prison for planning a jihadist attack on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Vienna concerts in August 2024 — the plot that forced the cancellation of three sold-out shows.
- The state court in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, sentenced a 21-year-old man to 15 years in prison on Thursday for plotting a jihadist attack on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in Vienna — the plot that forced the cancellation of three sold-out shows in August 2024
- The defendant, identified only as Beran A. under Austrian privacy rules, is an Austrian citizen who pleaded guilty in April as his trial began; before the court retired to deliberate, he told the room: “I would just like to say that I am sorry”
- He was found guilty on multiple charges, primarily terrorism-related offenses, by the Wiener Neustadt court; the 15-year sentence reflects the severity of a plot that caused widespread disruption and fear among fans across Europe
- The Vienna cancellations in August 2024 affected roughly 170,000 ticket holders across the three dates; the plot was foiled by Austrian authorities in a joint operation before any attack occurred
- Swift has not publicly commented on the verdict
Nearly two years after Austrian authorities foiled a planned jihadist attack on Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts, the man at the center of the plot has been sentenced. The state court in Wiener Neustadt handed down a 15-year prison sentence Thursday to the 21-year-old Austrian citizen identified in court proceedings only as Beran A., finding him guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges, per Variety.
The defendant had pleaded guilty in April when his trial began. Before the court retired to consider its verdict, he addressed the room directly: “I would just like to say that I am sorry,” according to the AP. The court accepted the guilty plea and convicted him on the full range of charges.
The case dates to August 2024, when Austrian security services uncovered the plot days before three consecutive Eras Tour dates in Vienna — shows that had sold out roughly 170,000 tickets in total. The concerts were cancelled as a precautionary measure, sending shockwaves through the global Swiftie community and raising broader questions about security at major stadium events. Swift acknowledged the cancellations at the time but has not commented on the court’s verdict.
A Plot Foiled Before It Could Begin
Austrian authorities worked with international partners to identify and detain Beran A. and other suspects before any attack took place. The Wiener Neustadt investigation established that the plot had an Islamist extremist motivation and that the target was chosen specifically because of the massive crowd the concerts would draw, per WTOP/AP.
The 15-year sentence is one of the longest handed down in Austria for terrorism-related offenses in recent years. Beran A. will be in his mid-30s before he is eligible for release.
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