A 21-year-old Austrian man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for plotting a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, while a separate UK murder trial has concluded with a guilty verdict against a man who lied to police about his victim.
Beran A, an Austrian citizen, was found guilty by the state court in Wiener Neustadt on Thursday of planning to use homemade explosives and a vehicle to kill fans gathered outside the stadium for Swift's concert in August 2024. According to reports, he also intended to stab concertgoers. The plot was foiled by intelligence services, leading to the cancellation of the Vienna shows. The court convicted him on charges including terrorism-related offences, and he received a 15-year sentence. During the trial, Beran A apologised, saying he was sorry, but the court did not accept his remorse as mitigating.
“A 21-year-old Austrian man jailed for 15 years for plotting a Taylor Swift concert attack; UK student Henry Nowak's killer convicted after lying to police.”
The Swift concert plot had global repercussions, affecting thousands of fans, including many from the UK who had travelled to Vienna for the sold-out performances. The swift response by Austrian authorities prevented what could have been a mass casualty event.
In a separate case in the UK, 21-year-old Vikrum Digwa has been found guilty of murdering 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. The court heard that Digwa knocked Nowak unconscious during an altercation, then called police with a false claim that Nowak was racist and armed with a knife. When officers arrived, they handcuffed the 18-year-old as he lay dying from head injuries. Digwa's 'wicked lie' was exposed during the trial, and he was convicted of murder. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled.
The Austrian court's ruling brings closure to the concert bomb plot and underscores ongoing vigilance against terrorism. Meanwhile, the Nowak family awaits justice as Digwa faces a potential life sentence.
For British readers, the Vienna plot serves as a reminder of the persistent threat of terrorism at large public events, while the murder case highlights the dangers of false reporting to police and the importance of proper emergency response.