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Austrian jury begins deliberations in terror plot case
A Vienna court jury has retired to decide the fate of two 21-year-old men accused of plotting jihadist attacks, including a foiled plan to target a Taylor Swift concert in August 2024. The trial centers on Beran A, an Austrian national who admitted to preparing the attack but denied other charges, and Arda K, a Slovak co-defendant accused of involvement in the same extremist cell.
The foiled Taylor Swift attack
Beran A was arrested in Vienna just days before Swift's first of three sold-out concerts at Ernst-Happel Stadium, following a tip-off from the CIA. The cancellation of all three shows left nearly 200,000 fans disappointed. Swift later revealed in her Eras Tour documentary that she had been informed of the bomb plot mid-flight to Austria, calling it a narrowly avoided "massacre situation."
Charges and admissions
Beran A has pleaded guilty to plotting the concert attack and being part of a terrorist organization linked to the Islamic State (IS). However, he denies involvement in planning an attack in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Prosecutors allege he attempted to purchase illegal weapons, including a machine gun and hand grenade, and tried to build a bomb using online IS instructions.
A court-appointed psychiatrist, Peter Hoffmann, testified that Beran A showed no signs of mental illness, stating there was "no psychiatric explanation" for his radicalization.
Co-defendant's role and broader plot
Arda K, the second defendant, is accused of being part of the same IS cell but was not involved in the Taylor Swift plot. Both men are alleged to have participated in planning attacks in Mecca and other cities months earlier. While they deny providing support, a third accomplice, Hasan E-who attended school with them-is currently detained in Saudi Arabia after allegedly stabbing a security guard and four others in Mecca.
Prosecutors argue that Beran A and Arda K traveled to Istanbul and Dubai as part of the conspiracy, though they maintain they did not assist Hasan E directly.
Closing arguments and potential sentences
In his summation, the prosecutor urged the jury to deliver a guilty verdict on all counts, emphasizing the need to hold those who prepare terrorist attacks accountable. "Anyone who planned such acts must face consequences," he stated.
"My client is not innocent; he has committed serious crimes. But you can only convict him for what he has done," Beran A's defense lawyer, Anna Mair, told the court.
Anna Mair, defense attorney
Mair argued that Beran A was manipulated and not a ringleader, while Arda K expressed remorse and asked for a chance to "integrate into society." Both men face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
What happens next
The jury's verdict is expected in the coming days. The case has drawn international attention, not only for its connection to Swift but also for its implications in counterterrorism efforts across Europe.
