Overview

• The Berlin court convicted the Syrian, identified as Mohammad A., of preparing a serious act of violence and supporting a terrorist act abroad tied to a 2024 plan targeting concerts in Vienna.
• Judges said he was radicalised online by Islamic State propaganda, sent a bomb‑making video to the would‑be attacker, and arranged contact with an IS member.
• The court imposed an 18‑month term suspended under juvenile law that matches prosecutors’ request, the verdict can be appealed, and the trial was closed because of his age.
• Austrian police made several arrests with help credited to U.S. intelligence, which led authorities to cancel three Taylor Swift shows at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium last August.
• Austria later approved powers for police to monitor encrypted messaging to close security gaps, as officials report rising radicalisation among younger suspects across ideologies.