The man accused of plotting a horrifying attack tied to Taylor Swift’s since-canceled 2024 concerts in Vienna, Austria has officially pleaded guilty.
According to reports out of Austria on Tuesday via TMZ and other media outlets, the 21-year-old suspect — who is identified only as Beran A. due to strict privacy laws — officially admitted in court that he devised a plan targeting Ernst Happel Stadium, where Swift was scheduled to perform three sold-out shows in August of 2024.
As we reported at the time, those concerts were ultimately scrapped in light of the terror concerns. And now, we know even more about why: prosecutors allege this wasn’t some vague threat, but a calculated plan meant to cause mass casualties on an unimaginable scale.
Related: Taylor Swift Reveals What Fan Behavior Weirds Her Out The Most!
Authorities say Beran intended to attack not just the tens of thousands of fans packed inside the stadium, but also the massive crowds gathered outside. We’re talking about up to 65,000 people inside and another 30,000 outside for each show who were apparently in harm’s way. Yes, each show. The scale of what could have happened is almost too much to process. Per TMZ, Austrian officials say the man’s goal was to “kill as many people as possible,” which is just horrifying.
As his trial began, Beran pleaded guilty to plotting the attack — though it’s still unclear whether he admitted to every single charge against him, including alleged ties to a terrorist organization. His lawyer had previously suggested he would cop to most of the accusations, according to reports — so this development isn’t entirely shocking, but it is significant. Now, he faces up to 20 years in prison. (Only 20??)
And he wasn’t alone in his extremist connections. Two other men, identified as Arda K. and another unnamed individual, were reportedly involved in broader plans tied to ISIS, including potential attacks in other countries during Ramadan in 2024. However, Beran is thus far the only one directly charged in connection with the Swift concert plot.
Perhaps one of the most eye-opening elements here is how close this all came to becoming a terrible tragedy. The investigation reportedly involved cooperation between Austrian authorities and those in the US, with shared intelligence uncovering the plan and ultimately leading to the shows’ cancellation.
Now we know that the decision, disappointing as it was for fans at the time, saved countless lives…
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
