Austria chancellor urges more comms monitoring after Taylor Swift plot

People and security walk outside Happel stadium after Taylor Swift's three concerts this week were canceled after the government confirmed a planned attack at the stadium in Vienna, Austria, August 8, 2024. REUTERS/Elisabeth Mandl/File Photo

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria's chancellor said on Sunday his country's intelligence agencies should have greater power to monitor communications on messaging apps to stop extremists after a planned suicide attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna was thwarted this week.

Swift's three planned concerts were cancelled after Austrian authorities got wind of a plot led by a 19-year-old youth to launch an ISIS-inspired suicide attack at a soccer stadium where tens of thousands of fans were planning to attend the shows.