Austria – A 14-year-old boy suspected of planning a series of bombings in Vienna was reported on the 30 Oct 14 to have been offered $25,000 (£16,000) by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to carry out the attacks amid claims that two other youths recruited in the same way remain at large. The arrested youth has not been named by authorities, but has been identified by the Austrian media as Mertkan G, the son of Turkish immigrants, who has lived in the country for eight years. He was arrested on the 28 Oct 14 but details are only now emerging about his case. Among the sites in which he has admitted planning to plant explosives is Vienna's Westbahnhof station, one of the busiest in the country, used by 40,000 travellers each day. Austrian officials have refused to comment on reports that he was recruited over the internet by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and promised a payment for carrying out the bombings. But a spokesman for prosecutors said that the 14-year-old was in touch with "various different contacts". He had confessed to planning to plant a series of bombs in crowded areas around Vienna, said Michaela Obenaus, a spokesman for the prosecutors' office in the boy's home city of St Pölten. Despite his youth, he reportedly reconnoitred potential target sites "like a professional". He is not believed to have built any bombs by the time of his arrest, but he had researched bomb-making extensively on the internet, and made specific inquiries about purchasing certain parts. The Austrian authorities have spoken only of "unconventional explosive devices", but, according to local media reports, he was planning to build improvised cluster bombs similar to those used in the 2013 Boston marathon bombings. It appears he was not planning a suicide attack: he has reportedly confessed that he wanted to travel to Syria to fight alongside jihadist groups there, and saw a successful bombing campaign as his ticket to join. A report in Kronen Zeitung newspaper claimed that he was actively recruited over the internet by ISIL and promised a "special position" as a reward for carrying out the bombings, as well as the payment of $25,000. The newspaper claimed that two other youths were recruited to carry out attacks in similar fashion and remained at large. But other local newspapers reported that Austrian investigators believed Mertkan G may have been a so-called "lone wolf", working entirely on his own. The boy, who lived with his parents in St Pölten, a small city not far from Vienna, was known locally for speaking out in favour of ISIL and other jihadist groups, but the reports said his friends did not take him seriously. His plans were reportedly uncovered after concerned teachers at his school contacted police to say he had been speaking threateningly. After that, Austrian intelligence began monitoring his internet activity. He has been remanded in custody while investigations continue. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11199628/Boy-14-who-planned-Vienna-bombings-was-recruited-on-internet-by-Isil.html)
Switzerland – Swiss authorities confirmed on the 31 Oct 14 that three Iraqis arrested in Mar 14 are suspected of having planned a terrorist attack in Europe on behalf of the Islamic State group. At the end of Mar 14, authorities “arrested three Iraqi citizens suspected of providing support to the criminal organisation known as the Islamic State (IS),” Switzerland's attorney general said in a statement. “They are thought to have been planning a terrorist attack in Europe,” the statement said. Swiss media reported the arrests at the end of Sep 14, saying Switzerland's Federal Intelligence Service had been tipped off by a Western counterpart which intercepted the men's phone calls. The trio, according to media reports, allegedly helped around 40 jihadists residing in Switzerland to travel to the Middle East to join IS. They also purportedly sought to procure explosives and toxic gas for an attack. It also said the three were suspected of encouraging illegal entry into Switzerland and residency in the wealthy Alpine nation. Swiss investigators, with assistance from European and US authorities, were attempting to identify possible accomplices and uncover networks both in Switzerland and elsewhere, the statement said. It added that Switzerland's top prosecutor was currently overseeing 20 probes linked to jihadist activity.
United Kingdom – Britons travelling abroad are being warned that they could be targeted by terrorists seeking revenge for UK air strikes against Islamic State extremists. The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for all destinations across the globe that British nationals faced a 'heightened threat' of attack from 'groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria'. It urges all Britons living or travelling overseas to be 'vigilant' at the current time. The FCO said that it was responding to the 'generalised threat' rather than warnings of a specific attack. The move comes after Home Secretary Theresa May announced in Aug 14 that the UK national terror threat level had been raised from 'substantial' to 'severe', meaning an attack is considered 'highly likely'. The updated FCO advice states: 'There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.' 361COMMENT: This threat can be taken for any country assisting in the coalition against the Islamic State. COMMENT ENDS
Switzerland – Swiss authorities confirmed on the 31 Oct 14 that three Iraqis arrested in Mar 14 are suspected of having planned a terrorist attack in Europe on behalf of the Islamic State group. At the end of Mar 14, authorities “arrested three Iraqi citizens suspected of providing support to the criminal organisation known as the Islamic State (IS),” Switzerland's attorney general said in a statement. “They are thought to have been planning a terrorist attack in Europe,” the statement said. Swiss media reported the arrests at the end of Sep 14, saying Switzerland's Federal Intelligence Service had been tipped off by a Western counterpart which intercepted the men's phone calls. The trio, according to media reports, allegedly helped around 40 jihadists residing in Switzerland to travel to the Middle East to join IS. They also purportedly sought to procure explosives and toxic gas for an attack. It also said the three were suspected of encouraging illegal entry into Switzerland and residency in the wealthy Alpine nation. Swiss investigators, with assistance from European and US authorities, were attempting to identify possible accomplices and uncover networks both in Switzerland and elsewhere, the statement said. It added that Switzerland's top prosecutor was currently overseeing 20 probes linked to jihadist activity.
United Kingdom – Britons travelling abroad are being warned that they could be targeted by terrorists seeking revenge for UK air strikes against Islamic State extremists. The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for all destinations across the globe that British nationals faced a 'heightened threat' of attack from 'groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria'. It urges all Britons living or travelling overseas to be 'vigilant' at the current time. The FCO said that it was responding to the 'generalised threat' rather than warnings of a specific attack. The move comes after Home Secretary Theresa May announced in Aug 14 that the UK national terror threat level had been raised from 'substantial' to 'severe', meaning an attack is considered 'highly likely'. The updated FCO advice states: 'There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.' 361COMMENT: This threat can be taken for any country assisting in the coalition against the Islamic State. COMMENT ENDS
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