Brazilian Police Foil Alleged Bomb Plot Targeting Lady Gaga’s Record-Breaking Rio Concert
Brazilian authorities arrested two individuals over the weekend in connection with an alleged plan to carry out a bomb attack during Lady Gaga’s free concert on Copacabana Beach, which drew over two million fans on Saturday night. The suspects—a man in Rio Grande do Sul and a teenager in Rio de Janeiro—were detained as part of “Operation Fake Monster,” a joint investigation by the Brazilian Justice Ministry and Civil Police.
The arrests came just hours before the pop star took the stage. Authorities said the suspects belonged to an online group promoting hate speech and radicalization, particularly targeting LGBTQ+ communities. According to officials, the group aimed to carry out coordinated attacks using homemade explosives and Molotov cocktails to gain attention on social media. Although no explosives were found during police raids in multiple states, authorities said the suspects were actively recruiting teenagers online under the guise of being Lady Gaga fans, known as “Little Monsters.”
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Police chose not to announce the arrests prior to the concert to avoid public panic. Security was already high for the event, with 5,200 officers, drones, and facial recognition technology deployed across the beach.
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga said her team “learned about this alleged threat via media reports,” and had received no prior warning. “All parties were confident in the safety measures in place,” the statement added.
The concert proceeded without incident, with fans dancing to hits like “Born This Way.” Lady Gaga later posted on Instagram, calling the night a “historical moment.”
