Daesh supporter charged over Taylor Swift 2024 Austria concert terror plot
A young Syrian national has been charged in Germany with supporting a terrorist organization in connection with an alleged plot to bomb a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in August 2024, federal prosecutors confirmed this week.
The suspect, identified only as Mohammad A due to his age, is reportedly not in custody but is facing charges related to his alleged support of Daesh. German authorities say he played a role in aiding a co-conspirator in Austria with plans to target Swift's Eras Tour performance.
According to the federal prosecutor's office, Mohammad A had embraced Daesh ideology by at least April 2024 and began communicating with an Austrian suspect, Beran A, during the summer. Between July and August, investigators say the pair exchanged messages related to a bombing plot targeting the pop star's scheduled concerts at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium, which were expected to draw over 65,000 fans across three days.
The concerts were abruptly canceled just before the first show, leaving fans disappointed and sparking questions. At the time, authorities revealed multiple arrests and cited concerns about plots inspired by Daesh and Al-Qaeda.
Mohammad A is accused of translating Arabic-language bomb-making instructions and helping the Austrian suspect connect with Daesh operatives abroad. He also allegedly drafted an oath of allegiance to Daesh on behalf of the main suspect.
That suspect, 20-year-old Beran A of Ternitz, was arrested in Austria shortly before the concerts, following a tip-off from the CIA. US intelligence reportedly warned that the suspects aimed to inflict mass casualties.
Authorities believe Beran A had also considered an earlier attack in Dubai in March 2024, as part of a possible triad of Daesh-coordinated strikes, but backed out at the last moment.
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