Man Accused of Plotting Taylor Swift Concert Attack Apologizes Ahead of Trial Verdict

An Austrian known only as Beran A., per local laws, has issued an apology for plotting an attack on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stop in Vienna in 2024. Authorities discovered the 21-year-old man’s plans ahead of time and canceled the artist’s three tour dates in the city out of caution. Beran A., who pleaded guilty to the charges in April, is awaiting a verdict in the trial for his actions, according to The Associated Press.

“I would just like to say that I am sorry,” the man said before court adjourned.

The man was charged with terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

A rep for Swift did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.

Prosecutors claim Beran A. worked with ISIS on a plan to attack Swifties with knives and bombs outside of Ernst Happel Stadium. They allege that the man swore allegiance to ISIS and was also looking to purchase weapons illegally ahead of the concert, according to the AP. As many as 30,000 people were expected to gather outside the stadium, which would have held 65,000 attendees per night.

Beran A. is standing trial along with another man, Arda K.; only Beran A. has been charged in the Taylor Swift plot, the AP reports. A third man, who is not identified, is being held in Saudi Arabia. Their plan, prosecutors allege, was to attack people in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates at the same time for ISIS during Ramadan in 2024.
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Anna Mair, the lawyer representing Beran A., previously said her client “regrets it all” and that he considers his foiled attack “the biggest mistake of his life,” the AP has reported.

“Having our Vienna shows canceled was devastating,” Swift wrote in a statement after the attack was thwarted. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”