A 21-year-old man accused of planning a terrorist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024 has pleaded guilty in part, as his trial opened on Tuesday (28 April) in Austria.
The Austrian defendant, identified by authorities as Beran A, was arrested on 7 August 2024, one day before the first of three scheduled Taylor Swift Vienna concerts.
All three shows were subsequently cancelled after security concerns emerged, disappointing thousands of fans. Swift later described the cancellations as “devastating”.
The case is being heard in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna.
At the opening of proceedings, Beran A said he pleaded guilty in part. When asked specifically about charges linked to the planned concert attack, he replied “Yes.”
Prosecutors allege he used instructional material from Islamic State on how to make a shrapnel bomb, produced a small quantity of the explosive triacetone peroxide, and attempted to illegally obtain weapons, including a machine gun and hand grenade.
He faces multiple terrorism-related charges, as well as accusations of belonging to a criminal organisation and making dangerous threats. If convicted, he could face between 10 and 20 years in prison.
The trial also concerns separate allegations involving Slovak national Arda K, who is accused alongside Beran A of planning attacks in the Middle East in early 2024.
According to prosecutors, Beran A was meant to target Dubai, Arda K was assigned Istanbul, while a third associate travelled to Mecca.
Only the third man is believed to have acted, and was arrested on suspicion of stabbing a security official at the Grand Mosque.
Arda K admitted travelling to Istanbul with the intention of carrying out an attack, while both defendants denied providing moral support to the third suspect.
Tuesday marked the first of four scheduled hearing days. Proceedings are currently due to conclude on 21 May, though additional dates may be required.
The United States has launched strikes on Iran late Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian state media reporting explosions in several...
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the...
Russia has rejected German allegations that Moscow was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, calling the claims “baseles...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
Kyrgyzstan is hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the world for a celebration of traditional sports, cultural heritage and nomadic traditions.
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Country music legend Dolly Parton, whose songs, unmistakable style and warmth made her one of America’s most enduring entertainers, has died aged 80, her family said on Tuesday.
Kanye West’s first solo concert in Central Asia delivered an estimated five billion tenge ($11 million) tourism boost to Almaty, drawing 31,000 spectators from more than 50 countries.
American actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in TV shows such as Nashville and Heroes, has died at the age of 36, ABC News reported on Sunday, citing her representative.
Four artworks by 15th-century painter Antonello da Messina have been stolen overnight from the Museo Regionale di Messina, Italy's culture minister said on Sunday, expressing confidence in the police inquiry.
Cristiano Ronaldo has given one of his clearest indications yet that his playing career is nearing its end, saying the 2026-27 season will “probably” be his last in professional football.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment