Austrian terrorist gets 15 years for Taylor Swift concert plot

The Wiener Neustadt Regional Court found Beran A., who has roots in the Skopje State, guilty of terrorist offenses including participation in attempted murder, traveling for terrorist purposes, training for terrorist purposes, and membership in a terrorist organization and criminal organization, according to Junge Freiheit. The eight jurors unanimously affirmed the central questions of guilt. A co-defendant from Slovakia received a twelve-year sentence.

The three planned Taylor Swift performances in Vienna were cancelled in August 2024 due to the terrorist threat, affecting tens of thousands of fans. Beran A. had largely confessed during the proceedings, though the verdict is not yet final.

Court Finds Religious Extremism as Aggravating Factor

The presiding judge described the sentence, which fell within a statutory range of ten to twenty years, as appropriate to the crime and guilt. The court considered the religiously motivated extremist motives and the extended period of criminal activity as aggravating factors. Mitigating circumstances included the fact that the defendant was not yet 21 years old at the time of the offense and had partially confessed.

Beyond the Vienna attack plans, the trial also addressed a terrorist assault in Mecca. According to the indictment, Beran A., his co-defendant, and a third man had already planned three simultaneous attacks in Mecca, Constantinople, and Dubai in March 2024. The intended targets were police officers or security forces. While Beran A. and the second defendant returned to Austria, the third man attacked a security official in front of the Kaaba in Mecca with a knife in the name of the Islamic State. He is currently imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.

Prosecutor Rejects Defense Claims of Minor Role

Prosecutors accused Beran A. of encouraging the attacker before the assault. The state prosecutor rejected defense attempts to minimize the defendant’s involvement, stating that even a perpetrator already determined to act can be reinforced in his decision. The defense attorney Anna Mair argued that her client was not an ideological mastermind and that evidence was lacking for participation in the attempted murder in Mecca. She announced she would review the verdict with her client before deciding on possible appeals.

Psychiatric Assessment Confirms Full Criminal Responsibility

A psychiatric evaluation determined that the main defendant was fully capable of criminal responsibility. While experts noted deficient educational development and prior drug use, they found no relevant mental illness. The expert concluded that Beran A. was clearly capable of making decisions. In his closing statement before jury deliberations, Beran A. offered only a brief comment, saying he was sorry.

With information from Junge Freiheit