The Vienna prosecutor’s office has charged a 21-year-old Austrian citizen with terrorism in the case of an impending attack at singer Taylor Swift’s concert in Vienna in 2024, the publication Kygieg reported, citing a statement from the agency.
The name of the accused is not reported. According to local media, his name is Beran A. He has been in custody since his arrest in August 2024. He faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of terrorist activities and other offences.
According to prosecutors, Beran A. has been a member of the Islamic State group since May 2023 and was planning a terrorist attack on Swift’s concert, which was to take place on 9 August 2024.
Beran A. is also suspected of involvement in planning attacks in Dubai and Istanbul that did not take place.
Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna were due to take place on 8, 9 and 10 August 2024 at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
The day before the first performance, police reported the arrest of two suspects in preparation for a terrorist attack. The concerts were cancelled. Soon two more suspects were detained. The Austrian authorities were informed about the preparation of terrorist attacks by US intelligence.
An Austrian citizen was accused of planning a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna