A 21-year-old Austrian citizen, identified as Beran A under privacy rules, pleaded guilty to charges connected to a thwarted plan to attack people outside Ernst Happel Stadium during Taylor Swift’s Vienna performances. Austrian authorities cancelled three August 2024 concerts despite the plot being stopped. Prosecutors alleged Beran A planned to use knives or homemade explosives, discussed buying weapons and making bombs, sought illegal weapon purchases before the show, and swore allegiance to Islamic State. Beran A also allegedly coordinated with other Islamic State members. He faces up to 20 years in prison. He apologized to the court before the verdict. He is tried alongside Arda K, and a third man detained in Saudi Arabia, for alleged simultaneous attacks during Ramadan 2024 in multiple countries.
"A 21-year-old Austrian citizen, identified only as Beran A under Austrian privacy rules, pleaded guilty to charges related to a thwarted plan to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna nearly two years ago. Austrian authorities cancelled Swift’s three performances in August 2024 even though the plot was stopped. Prosecutors said Beran A allegedly planned to target people outside the Ernst Happel Stadium with knives or homemade explosives, and that he discussed purchasing weapons and making bombs before the performance."
"Prosecutors said Beran A sought to illegally buy weapons in the days before the concert and swore allegiance to Islamic State. The defendant also allegedly networked with other members of Islamic State before the planned attack. Beran A faces charges including terrorist offences and membership of a terrorist organisation, and could face up to 20 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to the charges related to the concert plot on the opening day of the trial in April."
"Beran A is on trial alongside Arda K, whose full name also has not been made public, and a third man who remains in pretrial detention in Saudi Arabia. They, as well as Beran A, allegedly planned to carry out simultaneous attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan 2024 in the name of IS. Only Beran A was charged in connection with the concert plot, while he pleaded not guilty to charges related to the simultaneous attacks."
"In final words to the court before it adjourned to consider a verdict, Beran A said: “I would just like to say that I am sorry.” Beran A’s defence lawyer, Anna Mair, told the court that her client was not an ideological mastermind. Prosecutors called for the men’s conviction during closing arguments at the state court in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna."
#terrorism-trial #taylor-swift-concert-security #islamic-state #austria-courts #ramadan-2024-attacks
Read at www.theguardian.com
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