Brazilian police announced on Sunday that they had successfully thwarted a plot to carry out a bomb attack during Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated mega-concert in Rio de Janeiro.
The free beachside concert, held in Copacabana on Saturday night, reportedly drew a staggering crowd of up to two million fans — marking the pop icon’s first performance in Brazil since 2012.
According to Rio’s civil police, the foiled attack was uncovered in a joint operation with Brazil’s Ministry of Justice, averting what could have been a tragic incident during one of the largest music events in recent history.
Officials arrested two individuals — an adult identified as the “mastermind” of the plot and a teenager — in a coordinated operation dubbed “Fake Monster,” a name referencing Lady Gaga’s term of endearment for her fan base, the “Little Monsters.”
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The investigation revealed that the suspects had used online platforms to radicalize youth and encourage participation in a “collective challenge” involving improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails. Authorities believe the goal was to gain social media notoriety by staging a violent act during the internationally celebrated event.
Police raids were conducted across multiple states, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso, as part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the extremist group behind the scheme.
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Investigators also found evidence of the group promoting hate speech and using digital platforms to manipulate vulnerable individuals through self-harm and other disturbing behavior as a means of fostering group identity.
Fortunately, the swift action by law enforcement ensured that the event proceeded safely, allowing fans to enjoy Lady Gaga’s electrifying performance without incident. The concert marks yet another historic moment for Copacabana Beach, which also hosted Madonna’s record-breaking show last year.
Authorities continue to investigate the broader network behind the plot while reaffirming their commitment to public safety at major cultural gatherings.
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