An Austrian court sentenced a 21-year-old Islamist on Thursday to 15 years in prison over a foiled plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024.
He was also found guilty of forming a terror cell, which was factored into the sentence.
The main defendant, identified only as Beran A in line with Austrian privacy laws, is an Austrian with North Macedonian roots.
He admitted planning an attack in August 2024 at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, the venue for the US pop mega star's three performances during her "Eras" Tour.
According to the indictment, the defendant’s target was not the singer herself, but her fans in the vicinity of the stadium.
The three planned concerts, which were expected to attract almost 200,000 attendees, were cancelled by the organizer as a precautionary measure.
Defendant expresses remorse
In a brief closing statement, the main defendant expressed remorse. "I would just like to say that I am sorry," he said.
The co-defendant, who is the same age, said he was almost grateful for the time he had spent in custody so far, as it had given him the opportunity to turn his life around. He asked the court to give him a second chance.
Prosecutors say the main defendant intended to carry out a jihadist-inspired massacre of Swift fans using knives and a bomb.
He was arrested a day before the first concert following a tip-off from a foreign intelligence service.
Swift calls events of 2024 'devastating'
Swift later described the events as "devastating" and said it had left her with "a new sense of fear."
Following the arrests and the cancellation of her concerts, Swift remained silent for two weeks – during which time she played five sold-out concerts in London.
She then wrote on Instagram that, out of caution, she had initially wanted to remain silent until the London concerts had taken place.
Prosecutors cite Mecca attack plans
Prosecutors at the same trial charged the main defendant and a second 21-year-old man with various terrorism-related offences, including forming a terrorist cell.
The court also found that both men had supported another Islamist who injured Saudi security forces in a knife attack in Mecca in 2024. The court considered this aiding and abetting attempted murder, and the co-defendant was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Prosecutors said that the cell's original intention had been to provoke a Muslim uprising and said the group had originally selected targets in Mecca, Dubai und Istanbul. But the main defendant had ultimately settled on targeting the Swift concert.
The defendant denied having any involvement in an attempted Mecca attack.
