Audio By Carbonatix
A 16-year-old who helped to prepare a foiled attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna last year has avoided prison.
Mohamed A was given an 18-month suspended sentence under juvenile criminal law in Berlin on Tuesday.
The Syrian, who prosecutors said was radicalised by Islamic State (IS) propaganda on the internet, was 14 when he helped the would-be attacker with a translation of bomb-making instructions from Arabic and put him in contact with an IS member.
Swift's three sold-out gigs at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium were called off in August last year by concert organisers after the planned attack was uncovered by police.
The court said the teenager made a full confession to the charges.
At the time charges were brought, he was only identified as Mohamed A in line with German privacy laws.
Under a suspended sentence, convicts need to meet certain conditions to avoid being sent to prison.
Three suspects, all of whom were teenagers at the time, have also been detained by Austrian authorities over the plot.
An investigation into the main suspect, identified as Beran A, is ongoing. The 20-year-old Austrian, who is in custody, was arrested before the concerts following a tip-off from the CIA.
The US foreign intelligence service said the plotters had hoped to kill a large number of concert-goers.
Investigators allege Beran A had also planned to carry out an earlier attack in Dubai in March 2024.
Reports suggested it was part of a co-ordinated plot involving three simultaneous IS attacks but he had changed his mind at the last minute.
In August last year, Swift described the cancellation of her Vienna tour dates as "devastating".
"But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives," she added.
Latest Stories
-
Asiedu Nkekia heads north, hists Upper West on Monday
5 minutes -
Aduana family rejects ‘breakaway’ claim, reaffirms loyalty to Okyenhene
1 hour -
Mahama applauds progress on Tamale Teaching Hospital Cardiology Centre
1 hour -
GRASAG holds 30th Annual National Congress at UCC, elects new leadership
1 hour -
Nyinahini Bauxite Deal: Community pushes GIADEC to consider local investors
1 hour -
Assafuah alleges nepotism at NPRA over rapid promotion and GH¢90k transfer grant
4 hours -
Fire ravages Berekum Cinema Hall, destroying property worth thousands of cedis
4 hours -
To create a prosecutorial office, Article 88 must be amended – Deputy AG
4 hours -
Mahama directs Health Ministry to establish Tamale cancer treatment centre as new cardio facility nears completion
4 hours -
Pope Leo tells Angola during huge Mass to ‘build hope’
5 hours -
KATH dental outreach exposes healthcare strain at Kumasi Central Prison
5 hours -
AngloGold Ashanti pledges continued STEM investment after successful Obuasi bootcamp
5 hours -
Ghana power cuts ‘not dumsor’ but part of upgrade – President Mahama
5 hours -
KGL Foundation screens over 500 people free, donates blood to support Oti Regional hospital
5 hours -
Playback: The Law discuses Quo Warranto OSP
6 hours