Trial After Foiled Attack on Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna

The 18-year-old Luca K. was arrested two days before the trial after a foiled attack on the Taylor Swift concert in Vienna and has been in pre-trial detention since then. The charges are allegations of terrorist association and criminal organization.

Trial After Foiled Swift Attack: Defendant to Plead Guilty

The 18-year-old will also plead guilty, as defense attorney Michael Dohr explained in a conversation with the APA on Wednesday. Luca K. had shared propaganda material of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS) and paid tribute to the Vienna attacker, who shot four people in the capital on November 2, 2020, in the name of IS. In the meantime, he realizes "that it was madness to praise the attacker." Luca K. has since renounced IS. "He also sees that IS has no legitimacy. He has been deradicalized through the experience of imprisonment," said Dohr.

Attack Plans Against Taylor Swift Concert Not a Subject in Indictment

Not a subject in the 22-page indictment is an initially alleged involvement of Luca K. in attack plans against the second of a total of three scheduled performances by Taylor Swift at the Happel Stadium last August. Luca K. had vehemently tried to distance himself from Beran A. during his interrogation, according to the indictment. "There is absolutely no indication that he was involved in attack plans," confirmed defense attorney Dohr. His client had indeed worked on the stage setup in advance of the Swift dates, "but not out of terrorist motives, rather because it was simply his job." Luca K. was also not the closest friend of Beran A., against whom the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office is still investigating on suspicion of terrorism: "He was one of several in a circle of friends he had joined."

Found Islam Through TikTok, Radicalized Through Mosque in Vienna-Meidling

Luca K. grew up in a non-religious environment. His mother is Catholic, and according to his lawyer, the 18-year-old originally had no religious affiliation. "He came to Islam through TikTok and began to take an interest in the religion," Dohr described. Luca K. then radicalized through the Tewhid Mosque in Vienna-Meidling, which he had regularly visited from 2023. Although no extreme content was preached there, many young people aged between 14 and 18 met there, "almost all of whom were radicalized." One of them was Beran A.

Radical Ideology "like a drug you can't easily get rid of"

"He wanted to be part of this group, where there was a close bond," noted the lawyer. IS propaganda material was shared among them, both personally and through various social platforms, and thoughts were exchanged with like-minded people: "It was peer pressure. It was like a drug you can't easily get rid of." The Islamist circle of friends, with whom the 18-year-old now wants nothing to do, "egged each other on." The indictment specifically accuses the 18-year-old of having sent, among other things, images of fighters, the IS flag, and a video via various messenger services, in which Beran A. holds a long knife with the IS symbol on the blade during a car ride, while a nasheed (Islamic chant, note) can be heard in the background. Luca K. is said to have idolized the Vienna attacker. According to the indictment, there is a video in which he pledges allegiance to the caliph of IS, taking the same pose as his role model in his confession post shortly before the attack. He also stated in voice messages that the attacker was not a kafir (unbeliever, note) because he killed policemen and that killing policemen was allowed. The accused will only deny the incriminated pledge of allegiance in the trial scheduled until 3:30 PM. According to his legal representative, a comprehensive confession is expected for the rest.

Luca K. reprimanded Beran A. for "Western values"

In the meantime, Luca K. is said to have come to the view that Western values do not need to be fought. As recently as April of last year, he reportedly told Beran A. that he should not go to a mosque of the Turkish mosque association ATIB, as it would allow "Western values like elections and police," according to the indictment. Beran A. is said to have often turned to the two-year younger Luca K. for religious questions. After converting, Luca K. is said to have primarily spent time with people who shared the same views as he did. The indictment lists over ten names, all of whom either have ongoing proceedings or have already been convicted of terrorist offenses. This includes the 18-year-old who planned an attack at the main train station in September 2023 but refrained at the last second.

Luca K. was likely heavily radicalized

Luca K. was likely heavily radicalized. For instance, he ordered a friend to adhere to the IS dress code and "obey him," and during the conversation, he stated that he "wanted to take a second wife," according to the prosecution. At that time, he was just 16 years old. There is also a photo of him with an outstretched finger. This so-called Tawhid gesture has been used by Islamists as a sign of recognition for years. From all this - the accused also has a relevant prior conviction - the prosecution concludes that he must be a member of IS. He now wants nothing to do with it, his defender is convinced. "In the future, he wants to lead a proper life," Dohr concluded.

(APA/Red)

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