"He followed instructions from an Islamic State video titled 'Make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom' to produce the explosive TATP."
Wiener Neustadt, Austria – A 21-year-old Austrian citizen, identified as Beran A. under Austrian privacy rules, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a state court in Wiener Neustadt for planning an attack on a Taylor Swift concert. The concerts, scheduled for August 2024, were canceled following the discovery of the plot.
Details of the Planned Attack
Beran A. was arrested on August 7, 2024, after bomb-making materials were found in his apartment. The first of three planned concerts was scheduled for the following day.
- Authorities allege he planned to attack onlookers outside Ernst Happel Stadium using knives or homemade explosives, with the stated intent to cause mass casualties.
- He attempted to illegally purchase weapons, including a machine gun and hand grenade, but was unsuccessful.
- He followed instructions from an Islamic State (IS) video titled "Make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom" to produce a small amount of the explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP).
- He admitted to traveling to Dubai in March 2024 to carry out an attack but stated he experienced a panic attack each time he attempted to stab someone and did not follow through.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Beran A. pleaded guilty to charges including terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization. He faced a potential sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.
- The trial addressed separate plots involving Beran A. and co-defendant Arda K., a Slovak national, who were accused of planning attacks in Middle Eastern cities, including Dubai, Istanbul, and Mecca.
- Both admitted to traveling to Dubai and Istanbul respectively with the intent to attack, but did not carry out the plans.
- The jury found Beran A. guilty of providing moral support to a third man, Hasan E., who allegedly stabbed a security guard at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on March 11, 2024, and remains in pretrial detention in Saudi Arabia.
Sentencing and Related Cases
- Beran A. was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
- Co-defendant Arda K. was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 12 years.
- Both were found guilty of contributing to attempted murder in connection with the attack in Mecca, though the defense argued their clients did not provide material support to the third man.
- A Berlin court previously sentenced a Syrian teenager to an 18-month suspended sentence for contributing to the plot.
- The trial is scheduled for five days, with a ruling expected by May 28. Beran A.'s lawyer, Anna Mair, stated after the verdict that they would discuss whether to accept it.
Background
The plot was disrupted with intelligence provided by the United States. John Kirby, then White House national security spokesperson, confirmed that the US shared information with Austrian partners. Taylor Swift later commented on social media regarding the cancellations, expressing a sense of fear and guilt concerning the impact on fans.