WIENER NEUSTADT, Austria (AP) — A verdict is expected Thursday in the case of a man who admitted to plotting to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna nearly two years ago.
The plot was thwarted, but Austrian authorities still canceled Swift’s three performances in August 2024.
The defendant, a 21-year-old Austrian citizen known only as Beran A. in line with Austrian privacy rules, faces charges including terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization.
His defense attorney said he pleaded guilty to the charges related to the concert plot during the opening day of the trial last month. He could face up to 20 years in prison.
Beran A. allegedly planned to target people outside the Ernst Happel Stadium with knives or homemade explosives. Tens of thousands of Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, had travelled to Austria to attend the performances of the American singer’s record-setting Eras Tour. Devastated by the cancellations, many gathered in central Vienna to trade friendship bracelets and commiserate about the cancelations.
Beran A. is facing trial alongside Arda K., whose full name also has not been made public. They, along with a third man who was arrested and remains in pretrial detention in Saudi Arabia, allegedly planned to carry out simultaneous attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan 2024 in the name of the Islamic State group.
Only Beran A. was charged in connection with the concert plot. He pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the plot for simultaneous attacks.
It wasn’t immediately clear how long the court would need to reach a verdict on Thursday, as experts still have to be heard and closing arguments made.
FILE - Taylor Swift performs at the Paris Le Defense Arena during her Eras Tour concert in Paris, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File)
MONTREAL (AP) — Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal and Logan Stankoven scored in a 2:47 span late in the first period and the Carolina Hurricanes moved within a victory of the Stanley Cup Final, beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Wednesday night.
Frederik Andersen made 18 saves for his third shutout in 12 postseason games this year to help the Hurricanes take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final. Game 5 is Friday night in North Carolina, with the series winner facing the Vegas Golden Knights.
“We have better,” Stankoven said. “It’s great to come out like a team like this and perform like that, but I think at this time of the year you can’t bring your ‘B’ game. You have to bring your ‘A’ game every night.”
Nikolaj Ehlers and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two assists for the Hurricanes. They are the seventh NHL team to win six or more road games to start a postseason.
“Definitely excited,” Gostisbehere said. “Have to take care of business.”
Anderson and the Hurricanes are 11-1 in the first three rounds. They put it away early in Game 4 after winning the previous two games in overtime.
The Hurricanes scored first for the fourth straight game when Aho beat Jakub Dobes with a one-timer from the right circle on a power play with 5:02 left in the first.
Staal followed with 3:53 to go, tipping in K’Andre Miller’s centering pass. Stankoven then finished off a two-on-one with Jason Blake with 2:14 remaining in the period.
“The game’s going to humble you,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “Whenever you get humbled, you stand tall.”
Andrei Svechnikov had an empty-net goal in the third.
Carolina had a 19-3 shots-on-goal advantage in the third period for a 43-18 overall edge.
“It seemed like the only guy that showed up was Doby,” Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson said. “Wasn’t good enough. Didn’t answer the bell.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) reacts after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Carolina Hurricanes' Alexander Nikishin (21) checks Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle during the second period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series game in Montreal on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) celebrates with teammate Sean Walker (26) after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) reacts as he is scored on by Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) as Canadiens' Josh Anderson (17) defends during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
