Austrian man sentenced to 15 years for plot to attack Taylor Swift concert in Vienna

A 21-year-old Austrian man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of orchestrating a foiled terrorist plot targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The individual, identified only as Beran A. in adherence to Austrian privacy regulations, received his verdict on Thursday.

The elaborate scheme, which was uncovered and thwarted in August 2024, involved plans to attack concertgoers outside Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium using knives and homemade explosives. Beran A. had reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, attempted to acquire illegal firearms, and produced a small quantity of explosives using online instructions. The swift intervention by authorities led to the cancellation of Taylor Swift's three scheduled performances in Vienna, much to the dismay of fans and the artist herself.