An Austrian court has convicted a man of planning an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence for the defendant. The 21-year-old Austrian national, identified as Beran A to comply with privacy laws, faced charges related to the concert plot at the state court in Wiener Neustadt, as reported by the Austria Press Agency.

During his trial, the defendant’s defense attorney confirmed his admission to the charges concerning the concert conspiracy. Despite the plot being thwarted, Austrian authorities decided to cancel Swift’s three scheduled performances in the country set for August 2024.

In his final statement to the court before deliberations, Beran A expressed remorse, saying, “I would just like to say that I am sorry.” The court learned that Beran A had planned to target concert attendees outside the Ernst Happel Stadium using knives or homemade explosives.

Thousands of Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, had traveled to Austria to attend the shows on the Eras Tour by the American superstar. Disappointed by the cancellations, many fans gathered in Vienna to exchange friendship bracelets and share their sadness over the canceled concerts.