Brazilian Police Thwart Bomb Attack at Lady Gaga’s Record Concert

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazilian police announced Sunday that they thwarted a bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga‘s concert at Copacabana beach on Saturday, which attracted over 2 million fans. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, in coordination with the Justice Ministry, reported that suspects were attempting to recruit individuals to carry out attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails.

The alleged attackers aimed to gain notoriety on social media, propagating hate speech primarily against children, adolescents, and the LGBTQ+ community. Police arrested the group’s alleged leader, who was found with an illegal firearm in Rio Grande do Sul, and a teenager who was detained for child pornography charges in Rio de Janeiro.

Authorities launched “Operation Fake Monster,” after receiving a tip-off from Rio state police intelligence. This investigation uncovered digital discussions promoting violence among teenagers. Police executed search warrants across Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo, seizing electronic devices and other materials related to the plot.

A spokesperson for Lady Gaga revealed that her team learned about the threat only through media reports the morning after the concert. The concert went ahead without prior indications of safety concerns, and Lady Gaga’s team had no communication from authorities about potential risks.

“Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police,” the spokesperson stated. The concert, funded by the city to stimulate the economy, is expected to bring in approximately $100 million. Lady Gaga, emotionally welcoming fans after a decade since her last performance in Brazil, exclaimed, “You waited for more than 10 years for me.”