A 21-year-old Austrian citizen, identified only as Beran A. due to privacy laws, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in Vienna in August 2024. The plot was thwarted by authorities, leading to the cancellation of three sold-out shows at Ernst Happel Stadium. Beran A. admitted to planning the attack but denied other accusations, including involvement in a separate plot targeting Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Authorities raided his apartment on August 7, 2024, recovering a nearly completed bomb. Prosecutors alleged he followed online ISIS instructions to build the device and had been preparing for the attack since July. The suspect reportedly aimed to "kill as many people as possible," targeting concertgoers outside the venue. Two other men, Arda K. and Hasan E., were also accused of plotting attacks in Istanbul, Dubai, and Mecca. Hasan E. allegedly stabbed a security officer at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and is being held by Saudi authorities. Beran A. faces up to 20 years in prison. His lawyer, Anna Mair, acknowledged his client’s actions caused fear but urged the court to "look beyond the headlines."
Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, traveled from around the world for the concerts. After the cancellations, they turned Vienna into a hub for friendship bracelet trading and sing-alongs. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly provided intelligence that contributed to the thwarting of the attack. CIA Deputy Director David Cohen stated the plot was advanced and could have killed tens of thousands, including many Americans. The case drew comparisons to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, which killed 22 people during an Ariana Grande concert.