The trial of a 21-year-old accused of planning an Islamist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna entered its final day on Thursday (28 May), with a verdict expected later in the evening.
The defendant, identified only as "Beran A" under Austrian privacy laws, has already pleaded guilty to the main charges, including terrorism-related offences linked to the foiled 2024 plot.
He was arrested on 7 August last year, one day before the first of three scheduled Taylor Swift concerts in the Austrian capital. The shows were later cancelled, leaving thousands of fans disappointed.
Swift later described the cancellation as “devastating”.
Beran A covered his face with a ring binder as he arrived at court in Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna, apparently attempting to avoid being photographed.
Prosecutors said the accused attempted to buy illegal weapons, including a machine gun and a hand grenade, but failed to obtain them.
They also alleged he followed instructions from an Islamic State video to produce a small quantity of the explosive triacetone triperoxide, commonly known as TATP.
The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
The case also involves allegations that Beran A and two school friends separately planned attacks in Middle Eastern cities earlier in 2024.
According to prosecutors, Beran A travelled to Dubai while co-defendant Arda K travelled to Istanbul with the intention of carrying out attacks. Both men admitted making the trips but said they ultimately abandoned the plans.
They denied accusations that they provided moral support to a third man arrested in Mecca on suspicion of stabbing a security official at the Grand Mosque. That suspect remains in custody in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking outside court, Beran A’s lawyer, Anna Mair, said the final sentence would depend heavily on how the jury interpreted the case.
“If the jury rules as the prosecution argued the case, then we are looking at a sentence of up to 20 years,” she told reporters.
“If, however, the jury sees it as we do, namely that he did not provide support to anyone, then the sentence would be significantly shorter.”
Closing arguments from both the prosecution and defence were expected later on Thursday before jurors began deliberations.
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