RIO DE JANEIRO — Two individuals were arrested in connection with an alleged plan to attack Lady Gaga’s free concert on Copacabana Beach, the Brazilian Civil Police confirmed.
Plot Involved Improvised Explosives, Police Say
The suspects — an adult man detained in Rio Grande do Sul and a teenager arrested in Rio de Janeiro — are reportedly fans of the pop singer. Authorities claim the two were allegedly planning to use improvised explosives, including Molotov cocktails, to target the event. No actual explosives were recovered during the arrests.
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Suspects Linked to Online Hate Group
Officials said the pair is part of an extremist online group that promotes hate speech and encourages violent acts. The group is also accused of attempting to recruit teenagers. One of the suspects is facing an additional charge for possession of child pornography.
Operation Fake Monsters Led to Arrests Across Cities
The arrests were made under Operation Fake Monsters — a joint investigation conducted by the Brazilian Justice Ministry, Federal Police, and digital intelligence services. Search warrants were executed in Rio, Niterói, Duque de Caxias, and Macaé.
In a statement, the Civil Police said:
“Those involved in virtually recruiting participants to carry out attacks using improvised explosives were identified — the plan aimed to gain notoriety on social media.”
Lady Gaga’s Team Unaware Until After the Show
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga stated the team only learned of the alleged threat through media reports on Sunday morning.
“We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning. Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks,” the statement read. “Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.”
Concert Goes Ahead Safely Despite Alleged Threat
The concert, held Saturday night, went on without incident. Over two million fans gathered on Rio’s iconic beachfront for the highly anticipated performance. Thanks to rapid law enforcement efforts, what could have been a tragedy was prevented before it ever had a chance to unfold.
