Man pleads guilty to planning attack on Taylor Swift concert in Vienna

A 21-year-old man in Austria has pleaded guilty to planning an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.

The man, identified only as Beran A., is accused of supporting the Islamic State group and preparing to carry out a violent attack during Swift’s Eras Tour in August 2024. Austrian authorities stopped the plan before it could happen and cancelled all three scheduled concerts in Vienna.

Prosecutors say Beran A. planned to target people outside the stadium, where tens of thousands were expected to gather. He allegedly wanted to use knives or homemade explosives and aimed to kill as many people as possible. Police later searched his home and said they found materials that could be used to make bombs.

The suspect is facing charges related to terrorism and being part of a terrorist organization. His lawyer had said earlier that he would admit to most of the charges. He could face up to 20 years in prison.

Another man, Arda K., is also on trial. Prosecutors say both men were involved in a wider plan to carry out attacks in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Those attacks were never carried out.

Authorities say the Vienna concert plot was uncovered with help from U.S. intelligence. The concerts were cancelled just one day before they were due to begin.

The case is being heard in a court in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna, and is expected to continue in May.

The cancelled concerts upset many fans, but people in Vienna still gathered to sing songs and exchange friendship bracelets in the city. Taylor Swift later said she felt fear and guilt after the shows were called off.

Officials say stopping the plot may have prevented a major tragedy.