Two Years Imprisonment for Vienna IS Supporter: Terror Plans Discussed with ChatGPT

The young man, who claims to have reformed, received a two-year prison sentence, of which eight months are unconditional.

The Austrian citizen with Egyptian roots, who used artificial intelligence (AI) in his attack fantasies and discussed the production and storage of explosives with ChatGPT, was found guilty of terrorist association, criminal organization, dangerous threat, and coercion. He was acquitted of charges related to training for terrorist purposes and instructing the commission of a terrorist offense. "There is no evidence of the preparation of a specific crime. We did not assume that they had the immediate intention to plan a bomb attack," stated the presiding judge of a jury panel.

Two-Year Prison Sentence for Vienna IS Supporter: Verdict Final

The 18-year-old was instructed to continue participating in a deradicalization program, to take up employment after his release, and to resume and complete his school education in the summer semester of 2026. Probation assistance was ordered for a three-year probation period. After consulting with his legal representative Michael Babic (Rast Musliu law firm), the previously convicted of serious robbery accepted the verdict. The prosecutor also agreed. The court decision is thus final.

The prosecutor initially described the trial as a "cautionary example of how rapid radicalization occurs" and attested to the 18-year-old's "inherently high danger." In 2022, the student approached IS. "It was more or less a support," the defendant stated. He led an inconspicuous life outwardly, but his social contacts were essentially in virtual spaces. On the internet, he then came across the domestic Salafist preacher Mirsad O. alias Ebu Tejma, whose theses he adopted.

Initially, he spread videos and other IS propaganda material and threatened chat partners with beheading if they did not behave properly with Muslim girls. Then, at the beginning of this year, the 18-year-old met several already known Islamists in real life, including a 20-year-old who already has two previous convictions for terrorist association and is currently in pre-trial detention for a third case.

Shooting Exercises in the Apartment of an Older IS Supporter

With this, the 18-year-old organized shooting exercises with an air rifle in his apartment. The older man encouraged the student, saying that IS had the answers to the crucial questions of life. "From March, he began to actively oppose dissenters in chats," reported the prosecutor. The defendant had posted photos showing him armed and with a fake explosive belt around his waist. "Then he came across supposed IS representatives online and discussed potential attack plans with them," revealed the prosecutor.

Defense Attorney: "ChatGPT Was His Best Friend"

At the beginning of April, the defendant obtained six PDF files with instructions for making bombs online. And he discovered AI as a contact for open questions. "ChatGPT was his best friend," admitted the defendant's legal representative. The 18-year-old inquired about the ingredients for making explosives at home. He was also interested in IS groups based in West Africa and the question of whether and how one could join them. He was also eager to acquire an AK-47 assault rifle.

"The next step would have been to implement his thoughts. We are talking about a potential attack," emphasized the prosecutor. Thanks to a foreign partner service, the Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN) learned about the "very dangerous" young man, who was then "fortunately arrested in time."

"He had no weapons. Attack plans were never in his mind," countered legal representative Babic. His client knows "that he made a big mistake. He is ashamed of it." The young man was "an internet Rambo" and had "typed his fingers sore on TikTok and ChatGPT," said Babic.

"I regret it in hindsight. I guess I wanted to be cool back then," added the 18-year-old. He repeatedly assured that he had cut ties with IS and his "acquaintances from the past": "I want to graduate now."

(APA/Red)

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