VIENNA — An Austrian court has convicted a 19-year-old of involvement in plans for two Islamic extremist attacks in Germany, one of which was supposed to be carried out by a 12-year-old boy. The case highlights the challenges posed by radicalized youth ready to commit acts of terror at home and in neighboring countries. Read more: Report: 12-year-old planned two bomb attacks in German city of Ludwigshafen

What the court found

The man was found guilty of inciting a 12-year-old German-Iraqi boy to target a Christmas market in the city of Ludwigshafen. The child had tried but failed to detonate an explosive belt at the market in late 2016. During the trial, the 19-year-old admitted to being a member of the "Islamic State," but downplayed his role in plotting the attacks. • Reacting to his lengthy sentence, the turned defiant, saying: "I don't give a s***!" The Austria Press Agency reported that the defendant was convicted Friday in Vienna of attempted incitement to murder as a terrorist crime. Defense lawyer Wolfgang Blaschilz said he would consider appealing. Blaschilz said the nine-year sentence was "way too much," and added that his client's deradicalization process was underway.
An Islamic State member is sentenced in Vienna to nine years in prison, among others for instigating a 12-year-old boy to commit a Christmas market bombing in Ludwigshafen, Germany.