Teenager in Germany Investigated for Alleged Ties to ISIS

According to the reports from the security services, the boy is said to have shared two videos and a post with references to Islamic State on his TikTok profile.

The authorities said he also distributed an image displaying an oath of allegiance to the head of Islamic State. During the investigation, the state criminal police came across further social media profiles belonging to the suspect, which also featured Islamist content.

They later learned that the teenager was planning attacks and had considered leaving the country.

The Cologne public prosecutor’s office emphasized that the current proceedings it is conducting do not include investigations into plans by the accused to carry out an attack on a Christmas market.

It also clarified initial reports that the police had taken the boy into custody, saying the 14-year-old went to the police voluntarily to have his identity established. He was not formally taken into custody, it said.

“Further details cannot be made public in order to protect the investigation and the personal rights of those involved,” the spokesman said.

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Interior minister for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, said: “A young man not only glorified and spread IS propaganda on his social media channels, but also shared fantasies of attacks. It is outrageous that 14-year-olds are already like this.”

“Social media is an accelerant for extremism,” he added. “We also need to keep a closer eye on these channels. That also means holding platform providers more to account. I am glad that our security authorities intervened at an early stage,” Reul said.