A fourteen-year-old girl is about to appear before the regional criminal court in Graz for terrorist association and membership of a criminal organization, the Austrian news agency APA reported today. It is assumed that the teenage girl is a follower of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (ID) and planned a knife attack on the "Jacominiplatz" in Graz. The indictment against the girl, who is under the age of criminal responsibility, is legally binding, the prosecutor's office confirmed in an article in "Kleine Zeitung", quoted by BTA.
Investigators from the Federal Office for the Protection of the State and Combating Extremism started tracking the girl after information from a European security authority. A chat history was seized in which the 14-year-old girl talked about a terrorist attack in the "Jacominiplatz" square. The girl had already prepared weapons for this purpose – ax and knife – as well as special clothing. She sent photos of the items to other IS supporters abroad via Messenger. The assassination was intended for the "infidels".
The suspect was arrested on May 17. She only turned 14 on May 9, so the charges only cover that period. During a search of her house, IS propaganda materials were found on various data carriers. In one of the videos, the girl is said to have pledged allegiance to IS. So far, the young woman has pleaded not guilty and has refused to give any evidence. A detention review hearing is scheduled for September 18, after which a date for the main hearing is likely to be set soon. If convicted, the 14-year-old girl faces up to five years in prison.