The "Spiegel" report said the kid was a middle track student, that is, not in the college entrance program. He confessed immediately when the police showed up.
His mother runs a computer emergency repair business.
longjack
Investigators found him via a tip from Microsoft, which has more intelligence gathering ability than the CIA. Do not cross Microsoft. If you use Windows, they can find you.
I wonder if I used Microsoft Flight Simulator to repeatedly crash a 747 airliner into a nuclear power plant, in the privacy of my home, would I end up on the terrorist watch list?
Some things should be left to wonder. I don't plan on finding out.