Austrian Authorities Foil Planned Terror Attack on Vienna Train Station
A 14-year-old Austrian boy was arrested on February 10 for allegedly planning an Islamist attack, with investigators uncovering detailed plans and bomb-making materials.
- The Austrian Verfassungsschutz (DSN) arrested a 14-year-old Austrian citizen of Turkish descent on February 10, who is accused of plotting an Islamist terror attack targeting Vienna's Westbahnhof train station.
- During a house search, authorities discovered detailed sketches of attacks on police and civilians, bomb-making instructions, aluminum tubes, knives, and other materials allegedly intended for constructing explosive devices.
- The suspect reportedly spread Islamist propaganda on TikTok, which first alerted authorities to his activities; he has since refused to cooperate with investigators or provide a statement.
- This arrest follows a separate Islamist-motivated knife attack in Villach on February 15, where a 23-year-old Syrian man killed one person and injured five others, further raising concerns about radicalization through online platforms.
- Austrian officials have highlighted the growing threat of extremist content on social media, particularly its role in the rapid radicalization of young individuals, and are calling for stronger measures to combat digital extremism.
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