Austrian man admits plot to attack 2024 Taylor Swift concert

A man accused of plotting a terror attack at one of Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna in 2024 pleaded guilty on Tuesday.

Austrian outlets Kurier and Kronen Zeitung reported the trial proceedings against the Austrian man identified as Beran A.

Prosecutors also tried the man on various terrorism-related offenses and ties to a terrorist organization. But it was not clear yet what other charges he pleaded guilt to.

Austrian man accused of attack threat at Taylor Swift concert

Beran A. was arrested on August 7, 2024, the day before the first of three planned concerts by the superstar singer in Vienna.

Those concerts were among the last shows of Swift's sold-out Eras Tour, with organizers having planned dozens of other events surrounding the concerts too.

The planned attack at the Taylor Swift concert was thwarted with the help of US intelligence. It resulted in organizers cancelling all three shows, to the dismay of fans. 

Suspect accused of ties to IS, planning further attacks

Vienna prosecutors said in a statement in 2024 that the Austrian man had declared allegiance to the so-called "Islamic State" terror group by sharing propaganda material.

Prosecutors on Wednesday tried Beran A. for planning attacks in the Middle East with another Slovakian man and for helping a third man who has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out a knife attack in Mecca.

Beran A. and the Slovakian man never went ahead with their plans in the Middle East that involved planned attacks in Dubai and Istanbul.

Beran A. faces 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Edited by: Alex Berry 

*In accordance with the German press code, Deutsche Welle refrains from publishing the full name of criminal suspects.