Plans for Attack on Swift Concert in Vienna: Teen in Berlin on Trial

Due to the age of the defendant, the public was excluded even before the indictment was read, as a court spokeswoman announced.

The then 14-year-old is accused of having had contact via social media in July and August 2024 with a 19-year-old from Austria who was planning a bomb attack on the singer's concert. The defendant, according to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, a supporter of the jihadist militia Islamic State (IS), is said to have translated a bomb-making manual from Arabic, among other things.

He also allegedly established contact over the internet with an IS member abroad and sent the 19-year-old a text template for the so-called pledge of allegiance to IS. The 15-year-old Syrian was arrested in Frankfurt an der Oder, Brandenburg, where he attended school.

Trial Scheduled Until End of August

The attack on the concert ultimately did not occur because the Austrian authorities uncovered the plan in time. On August 7, 2024, the 19-year-old was arrested. Swift's three planned concerts were canceled.

The 15-year-old is charged with preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state and supporting a terrorist organization abroad. Dates for the trial have been scheduled until the end of August.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.