Austria Islamic State man admits plot on Taylor Swift concert in Vienna
The 21-year-old and two other men also planned attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates
A man accused of pledging allegiance to Islamic State group and plotting to attack one of superstar singer Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna nearly two years ago pleaded guilty as his trial began on Tuesday, Austrian media reported.
The plot was thwarted, but Austrian authorities still cancelled Swift’s three performances in August 2024.
The singer’s fans, known as Swifties, who had flown to Austria from across the globe to attend a performance of her record-setting Eras Tour were devastated, but rallied to turn Vienna into a citywide trading post for friendship bracelets and singalongs.
Austrian outlets Kurier and Kronen Zeitung reported that he pleaded guilty to charges related to the concert plot.
It was not immediately clear what other charges he pleaded guilty to.
The defendant, a 21-year-old Austrian citizen known only as Beran A in line with Austrian privacy rules, faced charges including terrorist offences and membership in a terrorist organisation, and his defence lawyer previously said he planned to plead guilty to most of the charges.