During Probationary Period: 18-Year-Old in Leoben Again Suspected of Terrorism

An 18-year-old, already convicted in 2023 for a planned attack on a school in Bruck an der Mur, has now received another indictment from the Leoben public prosecutor's office, among other things, for the crime of terrorist association. The young man is said to have not abandoned his IS-aligned ideology during his probation period. On the contrary, he is said to have resumed consuming radical Islamist content on the internet and social media.

Informed himself online about bomb-making

"Among other things, he searched for information on bomb-making and reports on previous terrorist attacks against western countries, with the aim of carrying out a similar attack in the name of IS," it was stated on Thursday in the public prosecutor's press release. The indictment has now been filed, will be delivered, but is not yet legally binding, emphasized spokeswoman Viktoria Steinecker to the APA.

18-year-old denies offenses

The Leoben public prosecutor's office accuses the young adult this time of "obtaining information from the internet to commit a terrorist offense. By doing so, he participated as a member of IS and knowingly promoted the terrorist offenses of IS with the aim of establishing a radical Islamic theocracy." The youth was already arrested in July and has been in pre-trial detention since then. So far, the young man has denied the new allegations. He claimed he had no intention of carrying out attacks.

Accomplice also reoffends

The young man is the older of the two youths who were already legally convicted for a planned attack on a school. His former accomplice was also arrested again, but not until October, and for similar allegations, this time not in connection with the allegations against the 18-year-old. The investigation against the younger of the two IS supporters is not yet concluded, said Steinecker in response to an APA inquiry. He is suspected of wanting to buy a submachine gun.

(APA/Red)

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