Are more teenagers becoming terror suspects?

What in the World

• Episode: Are more teenagers becoming terror suspects?
• Website: What in the World
• Feed URL: https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/w13xtvrv.rss
• Duration: 00:12:59
• Published: 2025-03-17 15:30

Taylor Swift fans were gathering in Vienna in August last year, when organisers announced her three-night run would be cancelled, due to a terror threat. Three teenagers were arrested, accused of plotting an attack which was allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group. Speaking at a news conference, an Austrian politician said that “a tragedy was prevented.”

This sits within a wider picture of people behind acts like this getting younger. Although the numbers aren’t huge, in Europe last year, 1 in 5 terror suspects were under the age of 18. In the UK, it was double that. This data comes from a report written by Thomas Morgan, from the Institute for Economics and Peace in Australia. He joins the podcast to talk about the rise in radicalisation amongst young people.

We are also joined by Julian, a counsellor who works with teenagers in Berlin who have been radicalised by far-right ideology. He tells us how sessions run by Violence Prevention Network aim to change attitudes and behaviours of radicalised young people. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Elena Angelides and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde