Swift Terror Plans in Vienna: Main Suspect Deemed Legally Responsible According to Expert Opinion

A psychiatric report commissioned by the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office concludes that the 19-year-old was sane at the time of the crime. If charges were to be brought, he would therefore be judged according to the provisions of the Juvenile Court Act (JGG).

"The expert found no evidence that there were reasons for excluding guilt in the accused," confirmed Nina Bussek, the spokeswoman for the prosecution authority, on Tuesday afternoon in response to an APA inquiry. The 19-year-old, who is being investigated for terrorist association and criminal organisation, has been in pre-trial detention for six months due to the risk of committing the crime.

Already Legally Binding Terrorism Charges and Trial Date for Acquaintance of Main Suspect

Meanwhile, a legally binding indictment has been issued against an acquaintance of the 19-year-old, who came into the focus of the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence Service (DSN) during the arrest of the main suspect and a 17-year-old alleged accomplice. This was confirmed by court spokesman Christoph Zonsics-Kral to the APA. The now also 19-year-old Iraqi was not involved in the attack plans attributed to the duo according to the indictment. However, he is also said to be a fervent supporter of the radical Islamist terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS). He is accused of having disseminated relevant propaganda on social media since at least August 2023 and tried to recruit new members for the IS by spreading IS-glorifying images and videos via WhatsApp, TikTok and Telegram. He also wrote chat messages in which he made no secret of his beliefs. According to the indictment, he venerated the IS by claiming, for example, that the terrorist militia had "committed significantly more good deeds than bad ones." The 19-year-old is also said to have sworn allegiance to an IS leader in early August 2024, which was underscored with a pre-made Nasheed (a type of chant, note) and disseminated via a messenger service.

As Zonsics-Kral announced, the Iraqi, who has also been in pre-trial detention for six months, will have to answer before a jury at the Grey House on February 10. The trial is scheduled for just under two hours. No witnesses have been summoned, which suggests that the defendant is admitting responsibility.

The Iraqi has denied in the investigation process that he was closely acquainted with the main suspect in the Swift case. However, there are doubts about this, as a message was found during the analysis of his mobile phone, suggesting that he had expected the 19-year-old to help him find an apartment.

Investigations into Swift Attack Plans Still Ongoing

Meanwhile, the investigations against the two accused in the Swift case are not yet completed. Recently, new mobile phone and chat evaluations have heavily incriminated the main suspect. In addition, the Federal Criminal Police Office presented a report according to which the 19-year-old from Ternitz (Wiener Neustadt district) had produced explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) at home from everyday chemicals - sulphurous acid with a concentration of 4.1 to 4.5 percent, an acetone-containing nail polish remover and twelve percent hydrogen peroxide. "The quantities were small, but they seem sufficient to produce a detonator," the report states.

The 19-year-old is suspected of planning a suicide attack on the second of a total of three Taylor Swift concerts scheduled in Vienna on behalf of IS. The prosecution authorities assume that he wanted to kill as many "Swifties", as the singer's fans are called, gathered in front of the stadium, either with a homemade bomb or with bladed weapons already in his possession. During a house search of the 19-year-old arrested on August 7, electronic detonators, a twelve-channel transmitter, a detonator, a 60 centimeter long metal pipe, a 30 centimeter long combat knife, a 46 centimeter long machete and a butterfly knife were found in addition to chemicals available in any hardware store and the TATP-containing liquid.

Since then, the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office has been investigating the 19-year-old for terrorist association, criminal organization and offenses against the Weapons Act. A friend two years younger is considered a possible accomplice. Both deny having planned a terrorist attack.

(APA/Red)

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