The trial of a 21-year-old accused of plotting terrorist attacks, including a plan linked to a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna back in August 2024, opened on Tuesday under heavy security at the regional court in Wiener Neustadt.
Beran A., described by prosecutors as a supporter of the Islamic State, was brought into court in handcuffs, and the media gathered for what has been dubbed one of the country’s most high-profile terrorism trials in recent years.
He is standing trial alongside another 21-year-old defendant, Arda K., with both men facing charges related to terrorist activity and involvement in a criminal organization.
Prosecutors allege the pair were involved in planning three separate attacks in Dubai, Istanbul, and Mecca, and accuse them of contributing to an attempted murder carried out by a third associate, identified as Hasan E., who is currently detained in Saudi Arabia after allegedly stabbing security personnel at a religious site.
According to the prosecution, Beran A. had amassed extensive material linked to extremist ideology, including communications with a senior IS figure. Investigators also reportedly recovered a video on a USB drive in which he claimed responsibility for planned attacks.
The court heard that after returning from Dubai, the defendant downloaded bomb-making instructions, began assembling explosives, and attempted to acquire weapons, including machine guns and hand grenades. During a search of his home, authorities said they seized materials consistent with the construction of a shrapnel bomb.
Among the potential targets discussed, prosecutors said, were a town hall square, a gay bar, and a Taylor Swift concert scheduled for Aug. 9. Although the defendant allegedly logged the concert in his calendar, he did not possess a ticket.
“The evidence for all the accusations is overwhelming,” the prosecutor told the court, outlining what he described as a coordinated extremist plot.
Defense lawyer Anna Mair acknowledged that her client would not leave the court a free man but sought to portray him as vulnerable and influenced by others. She argued that Beran A. had been bullied in school and later manipulated by Hasan E., whom she described as a dominant figure who introduced him to extremist content online.
Mair said her client had admitted to some offenses, including elements related to the alleged Swift concert plot, but denied any involvement in the Mecca attack or in encouraging it.
“He did not participate in any acts in Mecca,” she said, describing the relationship between the men as toxic and one-sided.
During the hearing, Beran A. entered a partial guilty plea, admitting to some charges related to the Taylor Swift concert but denying others. His co-defendant similarly admitted to planning an attack in Istanbul but denied assisting in other alleged plots.
Both defendants are now set to be questioned separately as the trial continues.
