14-Year-Old Remains in Custody After Foiled Attack at Vienna Westbahnhof

The 14-year-old did not comment on the allegations during the custody review. Following the foiled attack at Vienna's Westbahnhof, investigations continue on suspicion of terrorist association and criminal organization. Since his arrest, the 14-year-old has exercised his right to remain silent. His defense attorney agreed to another four weeks of pre-trial detention, and the court's decision is final. The court assigned probation assistance to the teenager. An employee of the Neustart association is supporting him in custody. Additionally, a social network conference with youth court assistance and custodians was organized to develop a future plan for the student.

Drawings of the U6 Station at Vienna's Westbahnhof Found with 14-Year-Old

Investigators from the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (LSE) and forces of the WEGA arrested the teenager on February 10 at his residence in Vienna-Währing. The 14-year-old lived with his parents and wanted to start an apprenticeship in the coming fall. Both parents - who have Turkish roots - are said to have a liberal social attitude and do not practice a strict interpretation of Islam. During a court-approved house search, several knives and propaganda material were found in the apartment and basement compartment, which are said to prove the 14-year-old's allegiance to IS. Notably, drawings of the U6 station at Westbahnhof, apparently made by the suspect, were secured. They are said to depict trains, tracks, and stick figures, with one of the figures stabbing others with a knife or machete. These are labeled with the word "Kuffar" ("infidels"), a term used in Islam for people who belong to other religions or do not adhere to Islam. For defense attorney Anna Mair, these are "fantasies" of her young client. A concrete implementation is "far off," she recently explained to the APA. In contrast, investigators say the drawings are strikingly structured. Additionally, the 14-year-old possessed relevant Islamist literature and a list of components needed to build a bomb. In the basement compartment, aluminum pipes and loose table legs were found.

Tip from Germany Led to the Trail of the 14-Year-Old

According to APA information, the 14-year-old came to attention due to a tip from the German Federal Criminal Police Office. The German investigators had discovered a concerning TikTok profile with radical Islamist content. This profile was linked to the 14-year-old. Subsequently, the Directorate for State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN) was informed, which continued to investigate the suspect and was able to track him down. The DSN's report states that the 14-year-old began to radicalize via TikTok in August 2024. At the time of his arrest, it was not known whether he had visited mosques or had contact with other IS supporters. The evaluations of the student's phone and other secured data carriers are now eagerly awaited. Investigators hope these results will provide an answer to the central question of how concrete or advanced the student's terrorist attack plans are, as he is said to make an almost childlike impression outwardly.

(APA/Red)

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