A 21-year-old accused of planning an Islamist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024 that was foiled at the 11th hour pleaded guilty as his trial opened on April 28.

The defendant, an Austrian identified as Beran A, was arrested on Aug 7, 2024, the day before the first of three planned concerts by the US pop star in Vienna.

All three dates were then cancelled, to the dismay of fans and of Swift herself, who wrote afterwards that it was “devastating”.

The trial in Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna, is focused on more than that planned attack.

Other attacks were planned

Beran A is also accused, along with Slovak national Arda K, of planning attacks in the Middle East that they did not go through with, and of providing moral support to a third man who has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out a knife attack in Mecca.

“I plead guilty in part,” Beran A said at the start of his questioning by the presiding judge. Asked if he pleaded guilty to the charges relating to the planned concert attack, he said: “Yes.”

Both defendants covered their faces as they entered the courtroom, as is common in German-speaking countries, to avoid being identifiable in photographs. Beran A wore a dark blue shirt and jeans, Arda K a light blue shirt and beige trousers. 

Prosecutors accuse Beran A of using video instructions by the Islamic State on how to make a shrapnel bomb, producing a small amount of the explosive triacetone peroxide and illegally trying to buy weapons, including a machine gun and a hand grenade, for the planned attack.

He has been charged with various terrorism-related offences, as well as belonging to a criminal organisation and making a dangerous threat, and faces 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Defendants plead not guilty in part

Prosecutors also allege the two and the third man, all school friends, had planned to carry out one attack each in the Middle East before the Swift concerts, in March 2024: Beran A in Dubai, Arda K in Istanbul and the third man in Mecca.

While each travelled to his designated city, only the third man is believed to have launched an attack – he was arrested on suspicion of stabbing a security official at Mecca’s Grand Mosque. He is still in custody in Saudi Arabia.

Arda K pleaded guilty to travelling to Istanbul with the intention of carrying out a militant attack, as did Beran A in relation to his trip to Dubai.

They pleaded not guilty, however, to providing moral support to the third man, arguing he was already determined and the driving force behind those plans.

April 28 is the first of four scheduled trial days. The last is May 21, and it is unclear whether more will be needed. (Reuters) 

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The proposal to sign the Convention between Sri Lanka and Austria to prevent the double taxation and avoidance, and evasion of public finance, has received a Cabinet nod. 

According to the government, a convention has been proposed between Sri Lanka and Austria to expand economic relations between the two countries by establishing a necessary legal framework for the prevention of double taxation on income and capital and to prevent the avoidance and evasion of payment of taxes. 

The government states that although certain revenue may be lost due to the concessions awarded by the proposed convention, the benefits that could arise from the considerable increase in foreign investment promotions and foreign exchange earnings would be comparatively advantageous to Sri Lanka. 

As such, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to sign the said convention. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted for the convention between the Governments of Sri Lanka and Austria for the prevention of double taxation and evasion and avoidance of public finance, to be signed at the government level.

The said convention concerning tax on income and capital has been drafted and signed at the official level after discussion with the tax authorities of the two countries. 

As per the convention, in terms entered by Sri Lanka recently for the prevention of double taxation, the tax amount at a rate not exceeding 10% of the gross amount will be charged for interest and goodwill. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as a Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policy, to sign for the said convention at the government level and to submit the convention and accord that will be signed, as per the provisions of the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017. (Newswire)

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A Sri Lankan man has been apprehended at the Katunayake Airport for having attempted to travel to Vienna, Austria using a forged passport, it was reported.

The man, a 39-year-old from Thelippalai in Jaffna, was arrested by Immigration officials at the airport. 

The suspect is reported to have planned to travel from Sri Lanka to New Delhi, India and from there to Austria. 

After completing baggage clearance, the man provided his documents for travel clearance during which border control officers at the immigration counter had further inspected his documents due to suspicion. 

Investigations had found that the suspect had obtained his fake passport by paying Rs. 9 million to a broker, while border control officials had found his real passport and a fake emigration seal in his bag. (Newswire)

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The Embassy & Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Austria participated at the “ASIA DAY -2023”, an annual signature event organized by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO).

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna said the event was held on December 05, 2023, at the WKO Headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

The event offered opportunities for foreign representatives in Vienna to engage with high-level speakers and to showcase their trade and investment opportunities among more than 500 participants including representatives from Austrian companies.

The Federal Minister of Labour and Economic Affairs of Austria Martin Kocher attended the event as the guest of honour. Head of Global Forecasting and Regional Director Asia of ‘The Economist’ Tom Rafferty, and the former Foreign Secretary of India Nirupama Rao were among the key speakers.

‘Meet-me’ booths from eleven Asian Embassies based in Vienna including the Embassy of Sri Lanka were one of the attractions of the event.

With the assistance of the Export Development Board (EDB), product samples from several Sri Lankan companies namely Tradlanka Agriculture Enterprises (Pvt) Limited (Ariya Food), Bogawantalawa Tea Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd., Falcon Tea Factory (Pvt) Ltd., Basilur, T-sips, Elpitiya Plantations PLC (Harrow House), Treeline Agrarian ImpEx, Akbar Brothers (Pvt) Ltd., and Consolidated Business Systems (Pvt) Ltd. (RISH) were displayed at the Sri Lanka booth. 

The relevant information was shared with interested Austrian companies to facilitate entry into the Austrian market and promote business contacts. (NewsWire)

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