Isil 'hired' boy (14) to carry out bombings in Austria

Mertkan G, the son of Turkish immigrants, who has lived in the country for eight years, reportedly reconnoitred potential target sites "like a professional" despite his youth

Justin Huggler

A 14-year-old boy suspected of planning a series of bombings in Vienna was reported yesterday to have been offered $25,000 by Isil to carry out the attacks and 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 Tuesday, but details are only now emerging about his case.