A court in Austria sentenced 21-year-old Beran A. to 15 years in prison for preparing a terrorist attack at a concert by American singer Taylor Swift in Vienna. The investigation established that the young man also participated in the activities of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" and was preparing attacks outside the country.
The Terror Attack Was Prevented
According to the investigation, Beran A. maintained contacts with representatives of ISIS and received instructions from them, DW reports. In court, he spoke about attempts to assemble an explosive device and prepare an attack on the audience at the Taylor Swift concert.
The singer's performances were scheduled to take place in Vienna from August 8 to 10, 2024, as part of the world tour The Eras Tour. More than 170,000 spectators were expected at the concerts. After receiving information about the planned terror attack, Austrian authorities, with the support of American intelligence, canceled all shows. The suspect was detained a day before the alleged attack.
Attacks Planned in Several Countries
Alongside Beran A., his peer Arda K. also appeared in court, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
According to the prosecution, both men, along with a third accomplice who is in custody in Saudi Arabia, planned a series of attacks on behalf of ISIS in Mecca, Istanbul, and Dubai. The investigation believes that in March 2024, they intended to simultaneously carry out attacks on law enforcement officers and security services.
Beran A. admitted that he purchased knives for the attack in Dubai, but at the last moment he backed out of his intentions. At the same time, their alleged accomplice in Mecca attacked a guard at the Al-Haram Mosque with a knife and injured four others before being detained.
The trial has become one of the most high-profile counter-terrorism cases in recent years in Austria. According to the investigation, the timely intervention of intelligence services prevented a large-scale attack at a mass event with tens of thousands of spectators. The sentences for the defendants highlight the seriousness of the threat posed by international terrorist networks and the importance of international cooperation in the fight against extremism.
