Swedish teen investigated for Isis links
A 17-year-old girl from southern Sweden who was arrested on Saturday night at Vienna’s Westbahnhof station is being investigated on suspicion of “membership of a terrorist organization”, according to Austrian police.
The girl had been on the international wanted list since Wednesday when her family reported that she had left Sweden to join the Isis extremist group in Syria. Her family were reportedly able to track her phone to Vienna, and then informed Austrian police.
Police spokesman Roman Hahslinger told Austrian national radio that the girl had been taken into police custody, but that “there was no evidence that she planned to carry out terror attacks in Austria”.
“The girl told police that she did not intend to travel to Syria and that she has no connection to Isis. She just wanted to meet some friends, who don't actually live in Austria,” Hahslinger said. The girl’s mother travelled from Sweden to Austria and was present when her daughter was arrested.
Hahslinger said that it was now up to the courts to decide whether the teenager should be extradited to Sweden. Her friends, who she told police she was meeting in Vienna, will also be scrutinised by Austria’s police intelligence agency.
According to our Swedish news site, the girl’s family fear that she has been brainwashed by Isis after watching videos online.
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The girl had been on the international wanted list since Wednesday when her family reported that she had left Sweden to join the Isis extremist group in Syria. Her family were reportedly able to track her phone to Vienna, and then informed Austrian police.
Police spokesman Roman Hahslinger told Austrian national radio that the girl had been taken into police custody, but that “there was no evidence that she planned to carry out terror attacks in Austria”.
“The girl told police that she did not intend to travel to Syria and that she has no connection to Isis. She just wanted to meet some friends, who don't actually live in Austria,” Hahslinger said. The girl’s mother travelled from Sweden to Austria and was present when her daughter was arrested.
Hahslinger said that it was now up to the courts to decide whether the teenager should be extradited to Sweden. Her friends, who she told police she was meeting in Vienna, will also be scrutinised by Austria’s police intelligence agency.
According to our Swedish news site, the girl’s family fear that she has been brainwashed by Isis after watching videos online.
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