Teen avoids jail over plot to attack Taylor Swift Vienna concert

Police uncover criminal conspiracy

Police in Vienna have prevented a likely terrorist attack on Taylor Swift's concert in the city this summer. A teenage girl who plotted the attack on social media has been sentenced to time served and probation. The 15-year-old had shared hand-drawn diagrams of the concert venue and plotted to kill dozens of people by detonating multiple explosives.

The girl's motivations

The teen, who was detained in June, was motivated by extremist ideology and wanted to attack the American singer, authorities said. The girl, who was not identified due to her age, had planned to travel to Vienna to carry out the attack before being arrested. She had hoped to join ISIS and had researched jihadist content online.

Probation and investigation

The court in Salzburg, southwest Austria, ruled that the girl's arrest had helped deter her from carrying out the attack, and her mental health issues had been effectively identified and treated. She had spent five weeks in detention.

The teen was given a 12-month probation order and told to undertake educational training. Authorities said they would continue to monitor the girl and investigate any further involvement in extremist activity.